Skip to content
Asia

U.S. Restores Diplomatic Relations With Myanmar

<p>Ko Pyone Cho (C), one of the leaders of a 1988 student uprising, reunites with his family at Yangon International Airport in Yangon January 13, 2012.</p>
Ko Pyone Cho (C), one of the leaders of a 1988 student uprising, reunites with his family at Yangon International Airport in Yangon January 13, 2012.

By experts and staff

Published

News today that the administration would restore full diplomatic relations with Myanmar, placing an ambassador in the country, should be seen as another sign of the rapid reentry of Myanmar into the international community. A major U.S. business delegation is also visiting Myanmar, which some see as an economic opportunity on par with Vietnam after it opened in the early 1990s. Japanese business delegations have also been visiting and eying many sectors in the country. The restoration of diplomatic ties comes after another large prisoner release by the Myanmar government, as well as – more shockingly – a cease-fire with the Karen National Union, one of the longest-lasting ethnic insurgencies in the country, whose battle dates back six decades.

But from here, to get to removing U.S. sanctions on Myanmar (Australia already has dropped some sanctions), several steps are needed: