Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India

World Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India May 30, 20265:00 AM ET By  Michael Sullivan Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, then head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. Aung Shine Oo/AP hide caption toggle caption Aung Shine Oo/AP Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing is abroad on his first trip as president with a trip to neighboring India. India's foreign ministry said in a statement the visit will last from Saturday to Wednesday. The former leader of Myanmar's military will hold talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with Indian business leaders. He's also expected to meet with India President Droupadi Murmu. It's Min Aung Hlaing's first international trip since being sworn in as Myanmar's new president in April, in elections that have been dismissed by Western governments and rights groups as a sham. Sponsor Message In 2021, as chief of Myanmar's armed forces–known as the Tatmadaw–Min Aung Hlaing deposed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a brutal five year long civil war that shows no sign of ending. Despite the violence, the military went ahead with the election anyway, one in which millions were disenfranchised because of the war, while Aung San Suu Kyi's party was barred from competing. Before the president's trip began, New Delhi said in a statement that the visit "is expected to further strengthen and deepen the multi-faceted relations between the two countries." Asia 'I just want to see her again' says son of imprisoned Myanmar ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi Most analysts had expected Min Aung Hlaing's first trip to be to neighboring China, the Myanmar military's biggest booster, which also supported the general election. But that trip didn't happen, perhaps owing to Xi Jinping's focus on high profile state visits from both President Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Also, says Myan...