A new start for the US-Burma relationship

As Burma transitions to a democratic system, authors Brian Harding and Michael Fuchs emphasize that the United States should continue to evolve its bold but realistic approach to the country.

On April 1, long-time Aung San Suu Kyi confidant Htin Kyaw will take office as the new President of Myanmar. While The Lady will not be president, the fact that her National League for Democracy (NLD) party now controls the government is a turn of events hardly imaginable just a few years ago. Burma – a country ruled for 50 years by a succession of military dictators – will now have a democratically elected government.

Over the last six years the United States has made clear its willingness to engage and offer benefits to the people of Myanmar as democratic changes take place. The U.S. has restored full diplomatic relations, removed many of the harshest sanctions, and rapidly increased assistance to support the government’s reforms and efforts to build more effective institutions.

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