JOIN USAhead of Myanmar’s landmark first election under a military-backed quasi-civilian government, India has offered the neighbouring country its armed forces’ experience on working in a democracy.
This, even as New Delhi seeks to boost its defence ties with Nay Pyi Taw to counter China's growing strategic influence.
New Delhi has offered to help Nay Pyi Taw modernise its armed forces, providing not only military hardware but also training Myanmar's armed forces personnel.
India has also offered to help Myanmar augment the forces' Information Technology edge.
The first meeting of the India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Committee in New Delhi, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, saw New Delhi seeking to boost its defence ties with Nay Pyi Taw to deal with “emerging security challenges”.
Swaraj conveyed to Lwin New Delhi’s commitment to help Nay Pyi Taw build “a professional and capable Myanmar Navy to safeguard and ensure its maritime security”.
India’s offer to support Myanmar's Army and Navy and, at the same time, its nudge to the neighbouring country's military to adapt to democratic processes, is significant, coming just weeks after New Delhi’s security cooperation with Nay Pyi Taw was highlighted by their tacit coordination during Indian Army’s surgical strikes along the India-Myanmar on camps of insurgent outfits operating in the North-East.
Ahead of polls
It also came just four months before an election which could prove to be a landmark for Myanmar. It is going to be the first to be held under the government of President U Thein Sein, who has been pursuing political reforms in a country that has been under military rule for years.
Though the military still has substantial control over the government there, the November 8 election is expected to be the freest and fairest since 1990, when the first multi-party election in decades was held in the country.
Nobel-laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) had won the elections, but the country's ruling military junta refused to give up power.
Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest, will lead the NLD in the elections, although a controversial rule may bar her from being elected as the next president.
Though India has over the past few years stepped up its engagement with Myanmar's Army, New Delhi is also keen to support its democratic processes.
Lwin’s tour to New Delhi is likely to be followed by a visit by the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.