Thai air force chief meets Myanmar junta leader

2026-02-27 - 07:53

Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kanta, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, visited Naypyitaw on 27 February for talks with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the Thai military said. The trip came a day after a junta warplane bombed a market in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, an area controlled by the Arakan Army, killing 18 civilians, mostly women and children. Two days earlier, airstrikes on Myinmu Township in Sagaing Region left nine people dead, including a child under five. A day before the visit, the Royal Thai Air Force said Seksan also held discussions with senior Myanmar Air Force commanders in Naypyitaw to strengthen ties and elevate security cooperation. The talks focused on confidence-building at the air force level, expanding training and personnel development, and enhancing coordination among commanders to boost readiness and support stability along the border. According to junta media, both sides discussed joint air force training and broader military cooperation. Min Aung Hlaing described the December–January election as a “success”, portraying the military as a “permanent guardian” of democratisation in Myanmar and claiming voters participated voluntarily without major protest. The Royal Thai Air Force said it remains committed to professionalism and to advancing security cooperation for national interests and regional stability.