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The Trump administration has opened direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, US officials and others familiar with the outreach said.
The move marks a major shift from Washington’s efforts to isolate Myanmar’s military leaders after the 2021 coup.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Michael Vance has played a key role in the outreach. The talks focus on shutting down scam centres that target Americans. They could also lead to wider cooperation on Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral resources.
Vance met coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on September 15 and 16.
The meeting initially focused on securing the release of American businessman Adam Castillo. Four people familiar with the talks said the meeting also created an opening for wider engagement.
The meeting marked the highest-level US contact with Myanmar’s military government since the coup.
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Vance became the State Department’s top intelligence official in August. His role in shaping US policy toward Myanmar had not previously been reported.
The US continues to sanction Min Aung Hlaing over human rights abuses.
Washington has accused Myanmar’s military of genocide against Rohingya Muslims during the 2016-17 crackdown.
Less than two weeks after Vance’s visit, Myanmar’s military carried out an airstrike on a crowded marketplace in Rakhine state. UN human rights officials said the attack killed more than 50 people and injured many others.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Washington engages with groups across Myanmar on issues affecting US interests.
“You don’t solve problems by ignoring them. You solve them by addressing them,” Pigott said.
US officials want Myanmar to help shut down scam centres operating inside the country.
These centres run romance scams and other fraud schemes. The operations have cost Americans billions of dollars, according to people familiar with the issue.
Two people said the FBI has also established direct contact with Myanmar authorities over cyber scams.
Researchers say many scam operations operate in areas controlled by militias. Some of the proceeds may also reach military-linked groups.
The talks also covered Myanmar’s heavy rare-earth deposits.
These minerals are important for electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Most of Myanmar’s deposits lie in territory controlled by ethnic armed groups fighting the military government.
China currently remains the main buyer of Myanmar’s rare earths. US officials also face concerns that deeper involvement could create tensions with Beijing.
Washington wants to diversify critical mineral supplies and reduce its dependence on China. Myanmar’s rare-earth resources have therefore become an important topic in US policy discussions.
American businessman Adam Castillo was detained at Yangon airport on June 11.
Castillo previously headed the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar. People familiar with the matter said US officials held back-channel talks with Myanmar authorities to secure his release.
The discussions involved the White House, National Security Council and State Department.
One person said Myanmar wanted official engagement with Washington at a senior level in return.
Castillo later credited Trump for his release.
The September meeting followed earlier US-Myanmar talks in Tokyo in June. Vance also took part in those discussions.
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and military-linked businesses after the 2021 coup.
Congress also approved non-lethal support for the opposition in 2022. The funding supported airstrike warning systems and programs that encouraged military defections.
Trump’s foreign-aid overhaul later cut most of those programs, according to current and former US officials and State Department documents reviewed by Reuters.
The State Department said its new engagement with Myanmar’s military government does not end its ties with other groups.
The department said the US continues to provide assistance to areas outside military control.
Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks criticised the policy shift. He said it conflicts with US values and interests.
Myanmar’s military-backed government has also hired lobbyists in Washington to strengthen its international position.
In April, longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone began consulting for DCI Group on behalf of Myanmar’s Ministry of Information, according to US foreign-agent filings.
DCI later warned that Washington could lose access to Myanmar’s critical minerals if it failed to engage with the country.
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