Trump Doctrine in Myanmar: Abandoning Allies and Courting a Dictator 2026

The Trump doctrine in Myanmar is a case study in abandoning democratic allies and courting a dictator, with devastating consequences for human rights and regional stability. What was once a bipartisan concern over ethnic cleansing has been replaced by a pragmatic, transactional approach that critics say rewards brutality.

From Rubio's Letter to Realpolitik

In 2017, Senator Marco Rubio was among 20 US senators who signed a letter calling for strong multilateral sanctions against senior Burmese military officials responsible for gross human rights abuses against the Rohingya. Rubio argued that those responsible for atrocities should be prosecuted.

Fast forward to today, and the situation has only worsened. What was then deemed ethnic cleansing is now widely viewed, including by the US government, as genocide. The military's crimes have escalated, and the little democracy that existed was eradicated in the 2021 coup that imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi and overturned her party's election victory.

The Human Cost of Conflict

The civil war that followed has turned into a brutal series of overlapping conflicts between the military, resistance forces, and a medley of ethnic militias. Around 100,000 people have been killed, and 5 million have been forced to flee their homes.

The UN estimates that 16 million people are now in need of urgent assistance. It is one of the world's biggest humanitarian disasters, and entirely human-made. The suffering is immense, and the international community's response has been inadequate.

Sham Elections and a Dictator's Legitimacy

Earlier this year, Myanmar held sham elections, and Min Aung Hlaing – the general most responsible for Myanmar's genocide and one of the targets of Rubio's letter – consolidated power. The Trump administration's approach has been to engage with the general, effectively legitimizing his rule.

This is the Trump doctrine in action: a willingness to deal with strongmen while sidelining democratic allies. It is a departure from decades of US policy that prioritized human rights and democracy promotion, however imperfectly.

Key Takeaways

• The Trump doctrine prioritizes transactional deals over human rights, as seen in Myanmar.
• Marco Rubio's 2017 call for sanctions against Myanmar's military has been abandoned.
• The Myanmar conflict has killed 100,000 and displaced 5 million, with 16 million in need.
• Sham elections in Myanmar have cemented military rule, and the US response has been muted.
• Courting dictators undermines US credibility and moral authority.

Comparing Approaches: Then and Now

Why It Matters

The Trump doctrine in Myanmar signals a broader shift in US foreign policy: a willingness to abandon democratic allies and court dictators for short-term gains. This approach not only undermines US moral authority but also risks emboldening other authoritarian regimes.

For the people of Myanmar, the consequences are dire. The military junta continues its brutal campaign with little international pressure, and the humanitarian crisis deepens. The US, once a beacon of hope, has become a bystander.

What to Watch Next

As the situation in Myanmar deteriorates, the international community must decide whether to continue down the path of appeasement or to stand up for human rights. The Trump doctrine may win short-term deals, but it loses the long game of promoting stability and democracy.

For now, the people of Myanmar remain caught in the crossfire, their suffering compounded by the indifference of powerful nations. The world is watching, but action is lagging. The background to this story is set out in Business: latest articles. A related thread runs through Trump Doctrine in Myanmar: Abandoning Allies and Courting a Dictator.