IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories

IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
Myanmar continues to burn

Bibhu Prasad Routray
26 July 2023
Photo Source: Aung Shine Oo, AP Photo

Background
In spite of being in power for the last two and half years since orchestrating a coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s military-controlled government’s efforts to legitimize its rule remain an incomplete project. It has been subjected to enormous pressure from principally three quarters: the parallel National Unity Government and its armed wing, the People Defence Forces (PDFs) and some of the Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs); the regional countries; and some of the global powers as well as the United Nations (UN). Although it tries to portray a picture of stability, its capacity to govern the country and establish order faces constant challenges. However, these constraints and pressures have done little to dilute its will to stay put at any cost, which translates into launching a brutal war on the resistance movement. Its efforts have been aided by a few countries, who not only believe in its indispensability but also its ability to fulfil their strategic objectives. On the other hand, the NUG and its armed wing, in spite of their impressive achievements vis-à-vis the military, are not anywhere close to victory. They continue to battle a superior adversary, face logistical challenges and have struggled to elicit any visible, direct, and significant external assistance. However, just like the military, they too appear determined to stay on course. This stalemate is ruinous for the country and its economy. The struggle, however, is critical as its outcome will determine Myanmar’s political future.

Trends
In the entire contestation between the military and the pro-democracy activists in the last four months, three crucial trends can be identified. Much of these are continuing over the previous two years.

(i) Democracy versus terrorism binary: Restoring democracy and upholding the verdict of the 2020 elections has been the demand of the NUG. It justifies the armed uprising as the only option to secure its goal. The military, on the other hand, has alleged that the elections were fraud-marred and hence, had to be annulled. Interestingly, however, the military vows its promise to restore democracy as well, by planning to hold an election in which its own Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) can secure victory. On 28 March, the military-formed election commission announced the dissolution of 40 political parties including the National League for Democracy (NLD), for failing to re-register under a new electoral law. Although the election, planned to be held in 2023, is uncertain, the disenfranchisement tactic of the military remains part of the broader campaign to dig its feet deep in the country’s body politic.  

Its strategy continues to include intense stabilisation campaigns to militarily weaken PDFs and their EAO allies. On 27 March, during the celebration of the 78th Armed Forces Day, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing repeated that the PDFs and the EAOs are terrorists and reiterated his promise to crush them. Terming the pro-democracy activists as terrorists is strategic, as it seeks to legitimize the military’s use of brute force including air strikes to quell dissent, which has been continuing since January 2022. On 11 April, 175 people were killed in an air strike targeting the Pa Zi Gyi village in the north-western Sagaing region. The military spokesperson confirmed the strike. Again, on 27 June, at least ten civilians were killed in a similar attack on Nyaung Kone village in the Sagaing region. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), till 30 June, 3736 people have been killed by the military since the February 2021 coup. A total of 23,561 people have been arrested, of whom 19,295 are still under detention.      

The NUG’s campaign to restore democracy involves ambushes and attacks on military convoys and security force installations, and targeted assassinations of officials and symphathisers of the military and its government. The deputy head of the election commission was assassinated on 22 April and a lawyer accused of helping junta leaders was shot dead on 24 March.   

(ii) Stability Chaos Paradox: In spite of its inability to silence the opposition and secure prominent townships like Yangon from recurrent PDF attacks, the military insists that the country is stable and the conflict is under control. To showcase that it is ‘business as usual’, it celebrated the Armed Forces Day with a mega military parade in March. Reports in March suggested that work on the Muse-Kyaukphyu rail project, one of the headline projects of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) has started. In May, the Sittwe port, built with assistance from New Delhi in the Rakhine state, began receiving container ships.  Officials from India and Myanmar's military government attended the port's inauguration ceremony. The military government continues to receive a slew of high-profile visitors that have included the Chinese Foreign Minister (on 2 May) and Indian Defence Secretary (on 30 June).    

The NLD-dominated NUG’s strategy, on the other hand, is to spread chaos and prove the military’s stability claim wrong. Further, the NLD reckons that its popularity, which had translated into an overwhelming victory in the 2015 and 2020 elections, bestows upon it a sense of responsibility to keep fighting. The NUG claims control over half of Myanmar’s territory, which has been partially endorsed by Senior General Aung Hlaing, who in February said that of the 330 townships in the country, 132 need security measures.

(iii) Sanctions versus Show of Support: The United States, on 21 June, announced sanctions on Myanmar’s defence ministry, the state-owned Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB), and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB). The US Treasury Department said that the military has relied on foreign sources, including Russian entities under sanctions, to buy and import arms, equipment and raw materials worth $1 billion to manufacture weapons to support its brutal repression. Between March and June, there were six additional rounds of sanctions imposed by the US on different individuals, military officials, and entities in Myanmar. While the military has tried to put up a defiant posture, analysts are divided on the utility of sanctions. Some have argued that such sanctions have limited value and have pushed the military firmly into the lap of China.

The survivability of the military-backed government indeed depended critically on its relations with countries like China and Russia. While the ASEAN has failed to pursue a united approach to pressurizing Myanmar, countries like India continue not only to maintain normal official contact with the military but have extended a range of assistance including military hardware. In May, a new UN report indicated that Myanmar’s military had imported at least $1 billion in weapons and military-related equipment since the February 2021 coup. Much of the equipment has been sourced from individuals and businesses in Russia, China and Singapore. During the same month, the visiting Chinese foreign minister met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. He hailed the friendship between the two nations and pledged to boost bilateral ties.  

Trajectories
The  period between March and June did not demonstrate much change from the state of stalemate that prevails between the two adversaries: the military and the NUG. Both have claimed battlefield victories, underplayed their losses, and repeatedly expressed determination to continue their battle of attrition.

(i) The Military’s advantages: Nation-states have the inherent advantage of almost limitless resources to fight resistance movements. In Myanmar’s case, the protracted experience of fighting insurgencies is aiding the military’s armed campaign. In spite of the slew of sanctions it has been subjected to, the military enjoys several advantages. It has been able to exploit the strategic compulsions of regional countries like India for its own benefit. It has also managed to keep its long-standing relationship with China intact. More importantly, it has also been able to find dedicated sources for weapons.

Its pitiable human rights and humanitarian records have been repeatedly condemned by the UN. For instance, on 3 March, a UN report referred to the ‘four cut strategy’ of the military which included killing, arbitrary arrest, torture and enforced disappearance of anti-coup opponents. However, Chinese and Russian support in the global forum has protected it from any united and resolute action by the Security Council. As the West remains occupied in the Ukraine war, the Myanmar military, for all the valid reasons, has reasons to believe that it’s    

(ii) The NUG’s challenges: On the other hand, the NUG’s challenges are primarily three. Firstly, in the global arena, it is battling international indifference as the conflict fades from the media headlines. This has forced it to reach out to sympathetic countries, urging them to hold the military accountable for possible war crimes. In June, Aung Myo Min, NUG’s human rights minister visited Australia, met advocacy groups and NGOs, and spoke at universities. Although foreign governments have not shied away from maintaining diplomatic relations with the NUG, the latter is yet to secure official recognition.

Secondly, while the NUG views sanctions as a useful instrument for pressurizing the military, it maintains that this has to be accompanied by direct financial and logistical assistance to the resistance movement. So far very little is known about the source of the NUG’s war chest. However, there are reasons to believe that this is far too limited compared to the military which benefits from a range of economic enterprises. This is bound to limit PDFs and the EAOs military campaign in the medium to long term.  

Thirdly, the resistance movement against the military is yet to become a country-wide phenomenon. A number of EAOs including the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), United Wa State Party (UWSP) and National Democratic Alliance Army, have stayed away from the conflict. This works to the advantage of the military, as it focuses its onslaught in limited areas of the country.     

Early Warnings

  • The military-backed government is likely to make an all-out effort to hold elections this year. To ensure that it may escalate its operations, both in terms of strategic geographical areas and intensity.
  • The PDFs and EAOs too are likely to upscale their attacks, although these will remain sporadic.
  • The conflict is unlikely to produce a winner in the short term, which will translate to some parts of Myanmar remaining an active war zone.  

About the author

Dr Bibhu Prasad Routray is the Director of Mantraya, Goa. He was formerly a Deputy Director at the National Security Council Secretariat, Government of India.


PREVIOUS COMMENTS

May 2026 | CWA # 2088

Nithin V

King Charles's US Visit: 
Emphasis on strong bilateral relations, democratic values and security cooperation
May 2026 | CWA # 2086

Aishal Hab Yousuf

UAE’s Exit from OPEC: 
Implications for the Middle East and the Energy Market
May 2026 | CWA # 2083

Brighty Ann Sarah

The US-Iran War, Week Nine:
Deadlocked Negotiations, Competing Agendas and Domestic Pressure
May 2026 | CWA # 2082

Akshath Kaimal

Escalating Violence in Mali:
Between Ethnic Insurgencies, Jihadist Attacks, and Military Coups
April 2026 | CWA # 2074

Brighty Ann Sarah

Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire:
Asymmetric Terms, Fragile Truce and Israeli Occupation
April 2026 | CWA # 2073

Akshath Kaimal

The US-Iran War, Week Eight:
A Fragile Ceasefire, Attempts to Control Hormuz and the Stalled Talks in Islamabad
April 2026 | CWA # 2072

Anu Maria Joseph

Three Years of War in Sudan
Prolonged Stalemate, Humanitarian Cost, External Interventions and Regional Fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2069

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Expanding Drone Warfare, Russia's Strategic Patience and Ukraine's Diplomatic Outreach
April 2026 | CWA # 2068

Femy Francis 

China-Japan Tensions
Escalating Defence Posturing and Economic Decoupling
April 2026 | CWA # 2067

Anu Maria Joseph

Conflicts in Africa
Continuing Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and DR Congo, Security issues in Nigeria, and Political Instability in Madagascar
April 2026 | CWA # 2066

Akshath Kaimal

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Recurrent Clashes, Defiant Taliban, Contesting Narratives and Emerging China’s Role
April 2026 | CWA # 2065

Lakshmi Venugopal Menon

The Middle East (Jan–Mar 2026):
The US-Iran War, Israel-Hamas Conflict and their interconnected fallouts
April 2026 | CWA # 2064

Anwesha Ghosh

Afghanistan (Jan–Mar 2026):
Gender Repression, Leadership Rifts, Regional Realignments and Clashes with Pakistan
April 2026 | CWA # 2063

Ramya B

Russia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Assertive Military Posture, Attempts for an Economic Turnaround and Search for Partners
April 2026 | CWA # 2062

Himani Pant

Europe (Jan-Mar 2026)
Trade diversification & FTAs, Increased defence spending, Tightening irregular migration and Economic slowdown
April 2026 | CWA # 2061

S Shaji

Africa (Jan-Mar 2026)
Elections, Civil Wars, Militancy and Peace Initiatives
April 2026 | CWA # 2059

Adarsh Vijay

India and the World (Jan-Mar 2026)
Maintaining Strategic Autonomy, Balancing the US relations and Resetting the China ties 
April 2026 | CWA # 2058

Nishchal N Pandey  & Mahesh Raj Bhatta

Nepal (Jan-Mar 2026)
Political Upheaval, Generational Change and Economic Uncertainty
April 2026 | CWA # 2057

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar (Jan-Mar 2026)
An Illegitimate Regime’s Consolidation Game
April 2026 | CWA # 2056

Ashik J Bonofer

Southeast Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
Deteriorating situation in Myanmar, Philippines as the ASEAN Chair, New government in Thailand, and Economic & Environmental challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2055

Haans J Freddy

East Asia (Jan-Mar 2026)
China’s military operations near Taiwan, Japan-China tensions and South Korea’s security challenges
April 2026 | CWA # 2052

Shreya Upadhyay

The United States (Jan-Mar 2026)
Tariffs, Ukraine, Iran and Operationalization of Trump’s World Order
March 2026 | CWA # 2039

Femy Francis

Trump-Xi Meeting
Why did Trump reschedule it? What does that mean?
March 2026 | CWA # 2035

Akshath Kaimal

Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
Broken ceasefire, Expanding military strikes and Worsening humanitarian situation
March 2026 | CWA # 2033

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal after elections:
Five major challenges for the new government
March 2026 | CWA # 2024

Lekshmi MK

The UN and the Iran-US War
UNSC Resolution 2817 between “Clear and Unified Message” and “Manifest Injustice”
March 2026 | CWA # 2023

Femy Francis

China’s Two Sessions 2026
New Five-Year Plan, Ethnic Unity Law, and an Enhanced Defence Budget
March 2026 | CWA # 2019

Akshath Kaimal

Rising Violence in Nigeria
Limited State Capacity, Multiple Actors, and a Complex Security Environment
March 2026 | CWA # 2012

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
Long-range strikes, Defence adaptation and the EU’s energy dependence
March 2026 | CWA # 2010

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal Elections 2026
The Rise of the “New” and the Fall of the “Old”
March 2026 | CWA # 2009

Sreemaya Nair

Nepal Elections 2026
Rise of a new leadership and Reset in political landscape
February 2026 | CWA # 1998

Anu Maria Joseph

Instability in Sudan
Response to the genocide call and the threats of a regional spillover
February 2026 | CWA # 1985

Abhimanyu Solanki

Basant in Pakistan
The return of Basant, and what it signifies
February 2026 | CWA # 1977

Anu Maria Joseph

Violence in Nigeria
US military deployment amidst worsening insurgency
February 2026 | CWA # 1976

Lekshmi MK

The War in Ukraine
The Geneva Talks and Growing Negotiation Asymmetry
December 2025 | CWA # 1971

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan Budget 2025-26
Legislating stabilisation under IMF discipline and coalition constraints
December 2025 | CWA # 1970

Aparna A Nair

Pakistan & China
Ten Years of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
November 2025 | CWA # 1968

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi

Pakistan and the US
A New opening, or another cycle?
February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti

UK and China
PM Keir Starmer’s visit and the Recalibration of Economic, Strategic, and Domestic ties
January 2026 | CWA # 1946

R Preetha

The Davos Summit 2026
Five Major Takeaways from The World Economic Forum
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the Civil Rights Movement in the US
August 2025 | CWA # 1790

GP Team

The World This Week#323-324
The Trump-Putin meeting & the US-China tariff extension
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
Weaponization of access to the US economy
August 2025 | CWA # 1779

GP Team

The World This Week#322
US tariffs on India, Brazil and Canada & the EU-US trade deal
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War
July 2025 | CWA # 1770

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Pakistan-Afghanistan relations:
Why the focus on terrorism, refugees, and Uzbekistan as the third partner?
July 2025 | CWA # 1769

GP Team

The World This Week#321
Indian PM Modi's visit to the Maldives I Elections to the Upper House in Japan
July 2025 | CWA # 1762

Lekshmi MK

Ocean Darkening: 
What is the phenomenon? What are its effects? And who are more vulnerable?
July 2025 | CWA # 1749

R Preetha

Africa as the Hunger Epicenter
Of the 13 Global Hunger Hotspots, 8 are in Africa: Five reasons why
July 2025 | CWA # 1748

GP Team

The World This Week #318
PM Modi’s Visit to Trinidad and Tobago & Ghana, One big beautiful bill, and Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting
July 2025 | CWA # 1744

Chittrothu Vaihali

EU-Canada Summit 2025
What is security and defence partnership all about?
July 2025 | CWA # 1742

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly # 287-88
The 12 Day War and the Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal
July 2025 | CWA # 1738

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Thailand and Cambodia
What was the phone call between PM Shinawatra and President of Senate Hun Sen? What is the border dispute between the two? Why has this become an issue?
June 2025 | CWA # 1735

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025:
Trump making Europe great again
June 2025 | CWA # 1734

GP Team

The World This Week #317
NATO Summit 2025 and Russia-Mali bilateral agreements
June 2025 | CWA # 1733

Ananya Dinesh

China and the Pacific Islands 
What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

G7 Summit 2025:
The Focus on the Middle East and Trade negotiations
June 2025 | CWA # 1727

Aparna A Nair

Second China-Central Asia Summit:
China’s continuing search for regional partners, and the emphasis on the BRI
June 2025 | CWA # 1726

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
June 2025 | CWA # 1725

Brighty Ann Sarah, R Preetha, Santhiya M, Aparna A Nair & M Kejia

Operation Midnight Hammer: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran
What were the three Iranian nuclear sites that were targeted? What are the B2 Bombers and Bunker Buster Bombs? What do these attacks mean? What Next?
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
June 2025 | CWA # 1721

Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

Who are the Afrikaners?
Why is Trump interested in the Afrikaner question in South Africa?
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

New WMO Report on Arctic Warming
What are the social, economic and environmental implications of Arctic warming
June 2025 | CWA # 1719

J Yamini  

China’s EV Surge
What contributes to the rise of BYD
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

Gender Violence in Pakistan:
What are the larger issues in the Noor Mukadam case?
June 2025 | CWA # 1715

Femy Francis

The US-China:
On Tariffs, Rare Earths and Visas
June 2025 | CWA # 1713

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
June 2025 | CWA # 1709

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #284-285
Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions, Protests in the US, and the Indigenous Māori question in New Zealand
June 2025 | CWA # 1705

GP Team

The World This Week #314
Elections in South Korea and Poland I China and the Pacific Island Countries I Bangladesh Election Announcement 2026
June 2025 | CWA # 1703

M Kejia 

Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal
Kathmandu’s Global Agenda for the Himalayas
June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
June 2025 | CWA # 1691

GP Team

The World This Week #313
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit I President Macron's visit to South East Asia I Trump Vs Harvard
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

The World This Week #312
Elections in Romania, Portugal & Poland I UK-EU Summit
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
Continuing Russia’s Aerial Attacks, despite exchange of prisoners
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis and Israel’s Renewed Offensive
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
May 2025 | CWA # 1679

Aashish Ganeshan

US in the Middle Easr
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE
May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
May 2025 | CWA # 1677

GP Team

The World This Week #310-311
China in Latin America and the Carribbean I Trump's Middle East Visit I Denmark as the new Arctic Chair
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
The Discussion in Turkiye and the Elusive Ceasefire
May 2025 | CWA # 1672

D Suba Chandran

India and Pakistan:
De-escalation and the “New Normal”
May 2025 | CWA # 1671

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
May 2025 | CWA # 1670

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Singapore Elections in 2025:
People’s Action Party (PAP) Wins, Again
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
Tough Tariff Negotiations with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1666

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
May 2025 | CWA # 1665
Conflict Weekly # 280-81
India-Pakistan De-escalation I Ukraine Discussion in Istanbul I The Battle over Port Sudan I Disbanding of PKK in Turkiye I France-Algeria Diplomatic Tensions
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan