On the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing made his first foreign visit to India after assuming office. The two leaders met in New Delhi on June 1 and held talks on a range of issues aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular focus on trade, connectivity and security cooperation.
The visit comes at a significant moment in Myanmar’s political transition and has drawn mixed reactions, especially from members of the Myanmar refugee community living in India.
As President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in the country, Myanmar refugees in Delhi organised protests to voice their opposition to both the new government and the red-carpet welcome extended to the President.
Many among the displaced community do not recognise Min Aung Hlaing, a former military commander who seized power in a coup in 2021, as the legitimate leader of Myanmar.
On May 29, Myanmar refugees attempting to protest at Jantar Mantar alleged that they were stopped by Delhi Police. According to the protesters, three buses carrying demonstrators were detained and two participants were taken into custody before being released later that evening.
One of the exiled Myanmar nationals, James KC, told EastMojo that the refugee community had sought permission from the Delhi Police Commissioner to hold a peaceful protest but received no response.
“We were not given an NOC,” said James.
Despite the restrictions, around a hundred Myanmar refugees gathered to register their opposition to President Min Aung Hlaing and his government. The protesters sought to urge the Indian government not to engage with or legitimise the new administration in Myanmar.
“We wanted to request the Indian government to reject Min Aung Hlaing as the President of Myanmar,” James said, adding that “the Indian government should not validate the recent election in Myanmar.”
For many Myanmar citizens, particularly those aligned with the anti-junta resistance movement and those displaced by the conflict, Min Aung Hlaing is not recognised as the legitimate President of the country.
India for Myanmar, a campaign led by exiled Myanmar nationals and refugees living in India, has been advocating for democracy and seeking greater support from the Indian government. Its campaign leader, Salai Dokhar, said that citizens of Myanmar do not recognise the military-backed government as legitimate.
“It is deeply saddening to see a 21st-century dictatorship, rejected by much of its own people, being treated on the same level as the leader of the world’s largest democracy,” he said.
Salai added: “As a Myanmarese, I feel unfortunate to be living under one of the world’s most brutal political regimes while also witnessing the lack of value-based support from a neighbouring country that many of us once looked up to with hope.”
Despite the criticism, India and Myanmar continue to maintain close bilateral ties. Myanmar occupies a strategic position at the intersection of India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East and MAHASAGAR policies. Officials from both countries expect the visit to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
India and Myanmar share longstanding historical, cultural and geographical links. India has also been a refuge for Myanmar citizens fleeing political instability and conflict. Following the military coup in 2021, thousands crossed into India seeking safety, particularly in the northeastern states.
Myanmar held elections between December 2025 and January 2026, nearly four years after the military takeover.
The polls were conducted amid continuing conflict and instability. While the military-backed government described the elections as free and fair, opposition groups, resistance organisations and several international observers criticised them as lacking credibility.
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) emerged victorious and subsequently formed the government under Min Aung Hlaing in April 2026.
The National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the 2020 election, was dissolved following the coup. Its leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested and imprisoned.
Although the new government announced an amnesty for political prisoners and reports suggest Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest, her current whereabouts remain undisclosed.
According to United Nations estimates, the conflict that followed the 2021 coup has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than 3.6 million people.
Members of the refugee community estimate that around 10,000 displaced Myanmar nationals currently reside in Delhi, while thousands more live in relief camps and rented accommodation across northeastern states, particularly Mizoram.
Refugees in Delhi can access UNHCR-recognised refugee status, a facility not readily available in many northeastern states.
The visit is particularly significant for Northeast India, which hosts a large number of displaced Myanmar citizens and continues to face security challenges arising from instability along the India-Myanmar border.
During their discussions, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to preventing the misuse of their respective territories for activities detrimental to each other’s security interests.
Min Aung Hlaing also assured India that Myanmar’s territory would not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests, underscoring the importance both governments place on border security and regional stability.
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