US Has Opened Direct Talks With Myanmar Government, Report Claims
Reuters reported that the Trump administration has begun direct talks with Myanmar's military-installed government, the first such engagement since the 2021 coup. The report, citing seven current and former officials, said Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Michael Vance joined talks with Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on September 15-16, nominally aimed at securing the release of detained American businessman Adam Castillo. It also described June meetings in Tokyo that included the Treasury Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, and said officials discussed online scam operations and access to Myanmar's heavy rare earth deposits.
Why it matters: The engagement indicates that access to critical minerals, particularly heavy rare earths, is now part of US policy toward Myanmar as Washington seeks to reduce its reliance on China.