US imposes new sanctions on Myanmar military

The US Treasury Department said in a statement that Myanmar's military has relied on foreign sources to purchase and import weapons, as well as equipment and raw materials for weapons production. According to the US accusation, Myanmar's military government has imported goods and supplies worth at least $1 billion since the 2021 coup.

Myanmar military equipment. Photo: AP

The state-owned Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) and Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB) were also sanctioned. According to US allegations, these banks received and transferred foreign currency for Myanmar's military government.

The United States and other Western nations have imposed several sanctions on Myanmar's military leaders since they took power in 2021, following a coup that ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

A spokesman for Myanmar’s military government said they were not worried about any new sanctions. Zaw Min Tun told state media MWD on Tuesday that the country had been through sanctions before and would not suffer any losses if new sanctions were imposed on Myanmar’s state-owned banks.

He said the US "does this only to create economic and political difficulties. These things will cause unnecessary delays while we are trying to move towards a democratic system…".

Bangkok Business News quoted Thai sources as saying the sanctions would affect the finances of Thailand and several other countries in the region because of their links with Myanmar banks.

Bui Huy (according to CNA, Reuters, BBN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-ap-dat-lenh-cam-van-moi-doi-voi-quan-doi-myanmar-post252691.html