In his speech to the US Congress on 5 March, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the suspension of US$45 million in funding for the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) for students from Myanmar. Trump commended the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for cutting the $45 million allocation. The scholarship was awarded during the 2023-2024 term under former US President Joe Biden. 1
On 7 March, Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that it had imposed sanctions on 13 members of the Myanmar senior government officials and three entities for their involvement in human rights abuses and for undermining the peace, security, and stability of Myanmar. 2
Canada announced that it had sanctioned them due to the systematic human rights violations committed by the Ministry of Defense and military leaders, who are responsible for the deep-rooted violence, oppression, and the worsening crisis in Myanmar.
Canada has imposed a wide range of sanctions against individuals and entities in Myanmar since the 2017 Rohingya crisis. To date, the Canadian government has added 149 individuals and 92 entities to its sanctions list.
Switzerland also announced on 11 March that it had added the junta-controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), to its sanctions list. 3 Switzerland sanctioned the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) because its revenues support activities that undermine democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar. MOGE, which generates millions of dollars annually for the military council, was sanctioned by the European Union (EU) in early 2022. The United States, the UK, and Canada imposed sanctions on MOGE at the end of October 2023.
At the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 28 February in Geneva, Switzerland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged the international community to ban arms sales to Myanmar and impose targeted sanctions. 4 Volker also called for sanctions and an arms embargo, including a ban on jet fuel, to better protect the people of Myanmar.
Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited the Russian Federation and Belarus from 3 to 9 March. This marked his fourth visit to Russia since the February 2021 coup. It was also his first foreign trip since an Argentine court issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of genocide against the Rohingya.
During his visit to Russia, the military leader met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and signed 10 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), including one for the construction of a small-scale nuclear power plant in Myanmar. 5 After his visit to Russia, the military leader traveled to Belarus, where he met with Belarusian President Lukashenko. For the first time, junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing revealed at a press conference on 7 March, following a Myanmar-Belarus meeting, that elections are planned to be held in December 2025 or January 2026 at the earliest. The military leader also said that 53 parties have registered to participate in the elections planned by the military council. 6
The military leader told the propaganda media that his government was encouraged by the support it received from Russia and Belarus regarding the election.
1 Trump praises $45 million cut for Myanmar students, Western News, 5 March 2025.
2 Canada sanctions 13 members of the military council and three organizations, RFA, 7 March 2025
3 Switzerland imposes sanctions on MOGE, RFA, 11 March 2025
4 U calls for arms sales ban and sanctions on Myanmar, DVB, 3 March 2025
5 Military council and Russia agree to build small-scale nuclear power plant in Myanmar, Mizzima, 5 March 2025
6 The election will be held in December or January, Russia and Belarus will help election, military junta says, DVB၊ 10 March 2025