U.S. opens direct talks with Myanmar’s generals, reversing years of isolation

Washington – The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has begun direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, according to U.S. officials and others familiar with the outreach, in a sharp reversal of Washington’s efforts to isolate the country’s generals following the 2021 coup.

The U.S. assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, Michael Vance, played a leading role in the outreach, which has focused on shutting down scam centers that target Americans but could lead to broader engagement, including on Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits, according to seven current and former officials and others familiar with the policy shift.

Vance joined talks with coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyitaw on Sept. 15-16. The meeting was aimed at securing the release of American businessman Adam Castillo but also provided an opening for further engagement, four of the people said.