In an exclusive interview with RT, His Excellency Min Aung Hlaing, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, highlights how the Soviet defeat of Nazism served as a powerful inspiration for nations seeking independence. He discusses Myanmar's evolving relationship with Russia and supports a multipolar world order rooted in mutual respect and sovereignty. 🕊️🌐
00:00Mr. Prime Minister, first, thank you. It's a great honor for me to be here with you.
00:11I would like to express my condolences to your people in connection with the earthquake that
00:16recently occurred in your country. I'd like to start with that. How would you assess the
00:20international assistance you received? Was it effective?
00:22Is it effective?
00:523,700 people dead, more than 5,000 injured and 80 still missing. Around 67,000 homes,
01:016,400 schools and 350 hospitals were damaged. Many roads and bridges were destroyed. We also
01:09received international assistance. When I visited the affected areas, I witnessed the devastation
01:14firsthand. A state of emergency was declared within hours. I requested international support
01:20and aid began arriving within 24 hours, a major source of hope for us. Countries including Russia, China,
01:28India and others, 26 in total, extended their help. As a rule, if survivors are found within 72 hours,
01:36they still have a chance to live. Our teams arrived within 24 hours and we were able to rescue eight
01:42people alive. We also recovered the bodies of those who perished. The rescue services offered great
01:49support. We also received humanitarian aid delivered by planes, ships and other means of transport. This
01:56support has been vital for the country. However, much remains to be done in terms of recovery and
02:01reconstruction. I believe we will need even more assistance than what has already arrived.
02:09Apart from humanitarian aid, what other significant areas of cooperation have there been between Myanmar
02:17and Russia? Indeed, the scope of cooperation between Russia and Myanmar is broad, as you mentioned,
02:27and it extends far beyond the defense sector. We're working across multiple areas, science and
02:33technology, economics, law, education and healthcare. There are also topics that remain under discussion.
02:41During my visit in March, we spoke about building a nuclear power plant, developing a deep sea port in
02:47Dawei and investing in offshore oil and gas extraction. Some agreements have already been signed,
02:53while others are still being negotiated. I would like to emphasize that there are still many areas
02:59where we have work to do. It should be noted that the United States did not actually provide
03:08humanitarian assistance at all, but on the contrary, they imposed new trade tariffs of 44 percent against
03:14your country. So what is your reaction to this action by the United States?
03:20We don't see it as if the Americans have completely ignored the earthquake aftermath.
03:27They did announce that they would provide $9 million in assistance. We don't know exactly how that aid will
03:33be delivered through the UN or the AHCA Center, but they did state their intention to help.
03:38Our trade with the U.S. is not particularly large, only amounting to a total of $900 million
03:45from 2011 to 2025. In recent years, annual trade has exceeded $800 million. In some years, we export
03:54more. In others, the U.S. does. The U.S. does not impose tariffs only on us. They do it to other
04:01countries as well, including China. That's why, as a developing nation, I believe we should not be
04:07subjected to such tariffs. They're doing it because they have a trade deficit. But in my view, these
04:13tariffs are unnecessary. We should also seriously consider the reasons behind such actions.
04:20How does Myanmar plan to deal with the effects of these new tariffs and taxes?
04:27The key is to avoid relying on trade with just one country and to develop cooperation with a range
04:33of partners. Instead of focusing on a single market, it's better to trade with everyone.
04:38This also makes partnerships more resilient, in my view. As for why tariffs are being raised,
04:44we need to look into that. Their argument is that it is due to a trade imbalance. But the question is,
04:50then, why do they have a trade deficit? Why can't they sell their products? American goods are high
04:56quality, that's true. But they're also expensive. And expensive products are harder to sell. Yet I've
05:02seen that there is significant demand for American goods in many countries, including developing ones.
05:07So we can ask, why are their goods so expensive? That needs to be taken into account. Maybe it's
05:13about production costs. We must weigh all these factors and take steps accordingly. Rather than
05:19depending on a single partner, we are diversifying our trade. We see that many nations are heavily
05:24dependent on one market. I think this situation deserves serious attention.
05:34You've come to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory over fascism in the Great
05:39Patriotic War. Of course, this is a very important event, almost impossible to describe. Therefore,
05:45please tell me, how do you think this victory over fascism 80 years ago still impacts and influences
05:50the geopolitical landscape we see today?
05:54This was a victory achieved by the Soviet people against the Nazi invaders. It was a decisive
06:03triumph. Similarly, in Burma, we too suffered at the hands of fascist Japanese forces who were
06:10aligned with Nazi Germany, and we fought back fiercely. These struggles unfolded simultaneously.
06:16They were battles to defend our sovereignty. I must emphasize how pivotal this fight was. Because of it,
06:23many European nations, which had been occupied and suffered under colonial oppression, regained their
06:29independence. We have come here to witness how they reclaimed their freedom, largely because the Soviet Union spearheaded this
06:36resistance, paving the way for their liberation. Soviet forces occupied East Berlin. This is a historical fact.
06:43Now, regarding geopolitics, if we examine history, one key factor driving geopolitical dynamics is geography itself.
06:51Location matters. Another factor is resources, both on the ground and hidden beneath the surface. These elements shape outcomes.
07:00Geopolitics remains critically relevant today. Even now, major powers scrutinize smaller nations, asking what can be gained from them.
07:08That's why we see relentless pressure, military, political and economic, being exerted across the globe.
07:15I must say that the 80th anniversary of our fraternal nations' victory in the Great Patriotic War is an extraordinary event.
07:22Moreover, this conflict claimed to the lives of 26 million Soviet citizens. It stands as the bloodiest conflict, marked by the highest casualties and losses in the history of wars.
07:33It often happens that Western countries try to rewrite this history, the history of the Great Patriotic War, either to show how the West supposedly won this war, or to somehow ignore Nazi crimes, for example, in Ukraine, as we see it.
07:51Why is this? In your opinion, why do they want to rewrite this history?
07:54History cannot be lied about. It cannot be hidden. History must stand as it happened. The crimes of fascist Nazis cannot be erased. Nor can the Soviet Union's heroic struggle against fascism.
08:11This history cannot be corrected. History cannot be changed. It cannot be denied. So why do they try?
08:19Perhaps to cover up their own past mistakes, to ensure future generations never learn the full record of their actions.
08:26Or perhaps they want to push towards a new world order, reshaping the future for younger generations.
08:32When a nation's sovereignty is unaffected, many remain indifferent. But when sovereignty is threatened, they respond naturally.
08:41The other factor is their ego, their desires. Where these exist, problems are manufactured, amplified, and then solved.
08:50We've seen this pattern repeat itself throughout history.
08:53Look at the events in Ukraine and Russia that I mentioned earlier. The truth is clear. They are attempting to reverse history.
09:01We can also see Russia drawing on the legacy of the Soviet Union, using it to avoid sovereignty violation, to preserve its own sovereignty.
09:13In your opinion, why do the European Union and United Kingdom continue to finance Kiev and supply weapons to Ukraine
09:21when Washington gives them the opportunity to resolve this conflict through diplomacy?
09:25What do you think the European Union and the United Kingdom can achieve through diplomatic channels?
09:31War should always be avoided. Conflicts are best resolved amicably, through dialogue.
09:40Negotiations are the optimal path. Escalation thrives on external support. Without it, conflicts lose their momentum.
09:48Some nations face problems, and when conflicts arise, they fuel them, supplying arms, funds, provisions, and other resources.
09:56This perpetuates violence. The solution is simple. Cease such support. Political solutions must prevail. This is how it should be.
10:06You asked about the EU's objectives in this conflict. What is their endgame? They seek to prolong hostilities until they erupt into a full-scale war. This warrants serious consideration.
10:18In truth, conflict prevention requires decisive action. We must refrain from supporting this conflict. Focus on negotiations. Examine the root causes. Why did this happen? Why did this crisis emerge?
10:31History holds answers. Analyzing developments over the past two decades reveals the origins of the Russia-Ukraine issue. We need to look at it from the right angle and take action. Then this problem is solvable.
10:45There's an opinion that the resolution of the Ukraine conflict will actually lead to increased confrontation between the West and China. How would you assess this scenario in your region?
11:00That is a possibility. Since the 1950s, the U.S. has pursued a containment policy towards China, and now they've become competitors.
11:09When China and the U.S. compete, I think they'll try to contain each other through antagonism. That's why we need to negotiate and coordinate with all countries to prevent this from happening.
11:20This isn't just about two countries. Everyone else is involved, too. If the problem stays between just two countries, then it is manageable.
11:28But once others get pulled in, the situation becomes much more complex. That's how I see it.
11:34You're right that this conflict between China and the U.S. affects not just them, but other countries in the region as well. How does your country balance its relations with Washington and Beijing?
11:47Myanmar's foreign policy is independent and proactive. We maintain friendly relations with all countries. The U.S. is a friend of Myanmar, but China is a strategic partner among our neighbors and a brotherly country.
12:05Our relations with China are special, so we try to engage with both countries in the best possible way.
12:11How does the growing involvement of NATO in your region affect efforts to find balance?
12:24We are indeed concerned about this. The East Asia and Pacific region has nothing to do with NATO.
12:31We are worried about this development. I want to emphasize that there is no reason for it being involved.
12:36The Asia-Pacific region combines land, sea and ocean territories. It is strategically important.
12:43If we can maintain peace here, it would greatly benefit the world.
12:47But we're seeing powerful countries forming alliances, not just NATO, but also India, Australia, Japan and the United States coming together to balance power in the region.
12:59I believe this will only intensify conflict. A peaceful approach would be much better.
13:03I am truly concerned about this situation.
13:09I'd also like to talk about the concept of multipolarity. What does this concept mean for you and your country?
13:15How will Myanmar integrate into a multipolar system, especially when the Western world is trying to maintain dominance in geopolitics?
13:21The U.S. and Western bloc controlled the world through unipolarity.
13:31Then it became bipolar. And from bipolarity, it returned to unipolarity. This made the West stronger.
13:38But in this era, Russia, China and India have made tremendous progress militarily, economically and scientifically.
13:46As they have advanced, we have moved towards multipolarity. And that is how it should be.
13:52No single power should control the world.
13:54We, developing countries, especially suffer under a unipolar system.
13:58That's why transitioning to a multipolar world works best for us.
14:03It's better to share global resources, to act fairly, to distribute things more evenly.
14:09Conflicts arise from inequality.
14:11So if we want to avoid conflicts, I believe a multipolar system is the best approach.
14:17Speaking about countries seeking to join a multipolar system, what steps can they take to counter the West's attempts to maintain its unipolar dominance?
14:32I just mentioned three countries, three equally important global powers.
14:37We must try to cooperate with them.
14:39Making that attempt is absolutely worthwhile.
14:41We need to develop our own economic capabilities, while simultaneously increasing cooperation with each other.
14:48Countries that have been at the top, such as Russia, China and India, have the capacity to lead.
14:54If they collaborate and act in unison, multipolarity will become a global reality.
15:00No one will accept this unipolarity anymore.
15:03All countries that have experienced this crisis understand what it means.
15:07We know what this bitter experience feels like.
15:10That's why no one wants to suffer.
15:12Every country is trying to move forward.
15:14People say that those who stand still will be left behind, while those who move forward will progress.
15:20That's why everyone is moving forward.
15:23Looking back on what has happened throughout history, all countries are determined to prevent something similar from affecting them again.
15:30If we work together with the leading countries I mentioned earlier, I believe unipolarity will never prevail.
15:36How do you see Myanmar's role in ASEAN, one of the most important regional organizations?
15:47We are an ASEAN member country, according to the ASEAN charter, and we are fully engaged in this cooperation.
15:55ASEAN's goals are truly admirable.
15:57As Myanmar, we want to make sure everything is done right, and that is what we are doing.
16:02Within ASEAN, there are some differences of opinion among member countries, but we already have the fundamental principles established.
16:10I believe it is important to stick to these core principles as we work together.
16:13What future do you see for cooperation between ASEAN and Russia?
16:22I would say Russia is an important partner for ASEAN.
16:25In fact, our country is coordinating ASEAN-Russia relations from 2024 to 27.
16:31We previously did this with China, which worked out really well.
16:35Since Russia is one of our friends, we genuinely want to strengthen its relations with the alliance.
16:40Russia is a significant country for ASEAN, and we are among the dialogue partners.
16:45Therefore, we see Russia playing an important role in future cooperation with ASEAN.
16:50That said, I think there is room for Russia to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries across many more areas.
16:59Our channel RT has been covering world events for 20 years now.
17:05How would you evaluate its work?
17:10RT is a top-tier news channel.
17:13I watch it often, and I am impressed by how you present the news.
17:16Your coverage is thorough and impactful.
17:19You can really dig into the stories.
17:21I've learned a lot from watching your channel.
17:24This is why I think RT is genuinely a high-quality news source.
17:28Congratulations on your 20 years, and I hope you continue to grow even stronger.
17:32I believe RT can play a positive role in improving relations between Russia and Myanmar, and globally, too.
