US holds two rounds of talks with Myanmar military as EU maintains sanctions

The diplomatic posture toward Myanmar is shifting as regional powers reconsider their isolation strategy. The United States has resumed quiet talks with the country's military-backed government, creating a contrast with the European Union's continued refusal to recognize the regime.

State Department representative Michael Vance met with Myanmar officials in Naypyitaw and Tokyo earlier this month. These two rounds of talks mark a reproachment for Washington. The US aims to address online scam centers, secure the release of imprisoned American businessman Adam Castillo, and gain access to rare-earth resources currently dominated by China.

The European Union maintains a stricter stance. It suspended direct financial aid, imposed targeted sanctions, and reduced diplomatic engagement following the February 2021 military coup. Current sanctions cover 105 individuals and 22 entities linked to the military. The bloc extended these measures in April for another 12 months. Brussels continues to provide humanitarian aid to displaced communities and Rohingya refugees while supporting civil society groups.

EU leaders have not recognized the 2025/2026 election results, which saw military chief Min Aung Hlaing become president. The military retains control over the political system. An EU spokesman stated the bloc upholds its non-recognition policy due to ongoing violence. The EU also supports the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, a 2021 peace deal that has not been fully implemented.

Southeast Asian nations are questioning the isolation approach. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow welcomed US engagement last week. He suggested that ASEAN members would hold substantive discussions on Myanmar's future at their upcoming Manila summit. Myanmar authorities are also seeking to break their diplomatic isolation. In September, Hlaing gave an interview to Time magazine, his first with a major Western publication since the coup.

Recent diplomatic moves have drawn criticism from human rights groups. On October 22, Burma Campaign UK accused the British government of shifting its approach after the Foreign Office hosted Myanmar's charge d'affaires in London. Intelligence Online reported that the regime's charge d'affaires in Brussels has also sought contacts with European politicians, including Czech MEP Ondrej Dostal.

Experts note that the US strategy pursues specific interests such as rare-earth mining and cybercrime. However, Kristina Kironska of Palacky University Olomouc points out that major rare-earth operations are controlled by ethnic rebels like the Kachin Independence Organization, not the military. This complicates what Washington can achieve through negotiations with the junta.

The EU faces a balancing act between engaging the junta and supporting the democratic opposition. Sabe Soe, director of the Burma Centre Prague, suggests Brussels could maintain sanctions while expanding diplomacy through ASEAN and the UN. The EU could also tie any easing of restrictions to humanitarian access and political freedoms. For now, Brussels shows little appetite for a fundamental policy rethink, but this may change as more governments reopen doors to the generals.