Myanmar Junta Imports $1 Billion in Weapons Since Coup: Report

The Myanmar military junta has imported at least US $1 billion worth of weapons and related materials from Russia, China and other countries in less than two years, according to a new UN report. “Despite overwhelming evidence of the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes against the people of Myanmar, the generals continue to have access to advanced weapons systems, spare parts for fighter jets, raw materials and manufacturing equipment for domestic weapons production,” Tom Andrews, the UN independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, has said. The report documents over 12,500 purchases that were shipped directly to the Myanmar military or known Myanmar arms dealers working for the military from February 1, 2021 to December 2022. The report identified $406 million worth of arms-related trade from entities in Russia including state-owned entities, $267 million from China including state-owned entities, $254 million from entities operating in Singapore, $51 million from entities in India including state-owned entities and $28 million from entities operating in Thailand, reports The Irrawaddy.