Charlie Than, Myanmar's Minister of Commerce, announced that Myanmar has taken the first delivery of two Su-30 fighter jets from Russia. The statement was made in an interview with Russian state news agency RIA during the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual Russian event aimed at promoting economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment. The forum kicked off Sunday at the port of Vladivostok.
As of September 2022, Russia and Myanmar have approved a contract for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, RIA reported. The Sukhoi Su-30SME multi-role aircraft is designed for such diverse tasks as attacking enemy air targets, conducting aerial reconnaissance, combat work and training pilots, according to a statement by Rosoboronexport, an arms export company regulated by the Russian government.
In addition, Charlie Than revealed in an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS that a number of bilateral agreements will be signed at the Eastern Economic Forum. One of them is an agreement to develop the tourism sector between the two countries.
On the other hand, the United States has issued a stern warning about Russia's support for Myanmar's military government, which it sees as a threat to the stability of the region. The supply of arms from Russia is believed to have exacerbated the conflict that has engulfed Myanmar, making it an increasingly worrying situation for the country.
Meanwhile, the high frequency of visits by Russian defense ministers and diplomats to Myanmar, as well as a series of visits by the head of the junta, Min Aung Hlaing, to Russia since 2021 and the awarding of an honorary doctorate, further demonstrate the increasingly close ties between the two countries.
Source: Reuters
