Russia says to boost military ties with Myanmar as junta leader visits

MOSCOW: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told visiting junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaingid that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with Myanmar, Russia's RIA news agency reported.


"We are determined to continue our efforts to strengthen bilateral ties based on the mutual understanding, respect and trust that have been established between our countries," RIA quoted Shoigu as saying at a meeting late on Tuesday.


Min Aung Hlaing was in the Russian capital to attend a security conference this week.


Rights activists have accused Moscow of legitimising Myanmar's military junta, which came to power in a Feb. 1 coup, by continuing bilateral visits and arms deals.

Russia said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar.


Defence ties between the two countries have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries.


Russia says to boost military ties with Myanmar as junta leader visits - Times of India

You can always bank on on Vlad to cozy up to a fellow murderous dictator.

When does he start bombing for them?

Russia, along with China . . . always winning the PR battle

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Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military: Report



MOSCOW: Myanmar's junta chief on Tuesday (Jun 22) thanked Russia, a major weapons supplier to the troubled Southeast Asian country, for strengthening the army which seized power in a coup earlier this year.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) government in February.

Russia has backed its ally and warned the West against sanctioning the junta.
"Thanks to Russia, our army has become one of the strongest in the region," Russian news agency TASS cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting in Moscow.
The friendship between Russia and Myanmar is becoming "stronger and stronger", the junta leader said, according to his comments translated into Russian.
"Myanmar for us is a time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally," Shoigu said, adding that military cooperation is an "important component" of Russia-Myanmar relations.

"We are committed to continue making efforts to strengthen bilateral ties," the Russian defence minister said.
READ: Russia and Myanmar military leader commit to boosting ties at Moscow meeting

READ: EU slaps fresh sanctions on Myanmar government

Min Aung Hlaing is in Moscow for a three-day international security conference which kicked off Tuesday and brings together defence officials from across the globe.

It is the junta chief's second known trip abroad since he seized power.
On Monday, he met with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, with the two agreeing to improve ties between their two countries.
Min Aung Hlaing then met the head of state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheyev, to discuss "potential military technical cooperation," a junta spokesperson said.
Since February, the junta's brutal crackdown on dissent has left at least 870 civilians dead, according to a local monitoring group.
Although the Kremlin has said it was "concerned" by the civilian casualties, Moscow has sought to develop ties with the junta.
In March, a Russian deputy defence minister joined an annual parade showcasing Myanmar's military prowess, including Russian-made jets, tanks and helicopters.

Source: Reuters/jt

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Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military: Report - CNA

A leopard cannot change it's spots. Do ordinary Russian people think their government is as dodgy as we in the West do?

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Originally Posted by Grumpy John

A leopard cannot change it's spots. Do ordinary Russian people think their government is as dodgy as we in the West do?

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Yes, but if they say so they are likely to be beaten, jailed or killed.