Washington (TDI): The United States lifted sanctions on Myanmar on Thursday, which happened right two weeks after the head of the junta party praised US President Donald Trump and wrote a letter requesting for easing of sanctions.
Human Rights Watch called this step by the US “extremely worrying” and said that it suggests a major shift in US foreign policy towards the Myanmar military that overthrew a democratically elected government and has been responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide.
A notice that came from the US Treasury Department announced that KT Services & Logistics and its founder, Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung; the MCM Group and its owner, Aung Hlaing Oo; Suntac Technologies and its owner, Sit Taing Aung; and another individual, Tin Latt Min, have been removed from the US sanctions list.
In January 2022, under the Biden administration, KT Services & Logistics and Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung were added to the sanction list, a step taken to mark the first anniversary of the military control of the country that ruined it.
The same year, Sit Taing Aung and Aung Hlaing Oo were included in the sanction list due to their involvement and role in the defense sector. Tin Latt Min was also later identified as a close associate of the military and thus put on the sanction list in 2024.
Neither the Treasury Department nor the White House gave the reason behind this move to lift sanctions.
It is reported that on July 11, Myanmar’s ruling military general, Min Aung Hlaing, requested that Trump, in a letter to reduce the tariff rate on his country’s exports to the US and also highlighted Myanmar’s willingness to send a negotiation team to Washington if needed.
The senior military general of Myanmar also acknowledged the president’s strong leadership in guiding his country towards national prosperity with the spirit of a true citizen.
Min Aung Hlaing also requested the US President to reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar, as they hinder the shared interests and prosperity of both countries and their peoples.”
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
