Praising Myanmar's Military Strength, Russian Defense Minister: Strategic Partner

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. (Wikimedia Commons/Vadim Savitsky/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - Russia has approved efforts to improve military relations with Myanmar. This was conveyed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu while receiving a visit from the leader of the Myanmar military junta Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

In the meeting which took place on Tuesday evening, June 22 local time, Shoigu also mentioned Myanmar as a strategic and reliable partner of Russia, so that increasing military cooperation between the two countries is very necessary.

"We paid special attention to today's meeting because Myanmar is our time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific Region. Cooperation in the military and military-technical fields is an important part of the whole complex of Russian - Myanmar relations", he explained, as reported by TASS, Wednesday, June 23.

The Minister of Defense noted that the Myanmar Armed Forces are one of the most efficient in the region today, equipped with modern military weapons and vehicles.

On that occasion, Shoigu saw this meeting as a perfect opportunity to exchange opinions on the perspective of cooperation, especially in the military and military-technical fields

"We intend to make further efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, based on the mutual understanding, respect, and trust formed between our countries. We are always open to good mutual dialogue on all kinds of issues", he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Myanmar military regime Min Aung Hlaing noted, the assistance of the Red Bear Country made the Myanmar army one of the strongest in the Asia Pacific region.

"Our army has become one of the strongest in the region, thanks to the Russian Federation. I also thank Shoigu for his contribution to the development of the Myanmar Armed Forces", said Min Aung Hlaing.

He added that today's meeting emphasized that the friendship between the two countries continues and becomes stronger. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing himself is also known to be attending the Moscow International Security Conference which will last until tomorrow.

Regarding The Myanmar Coup. VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.