The pivot toward closer India-Myanmar ties
India and Myanmar have gone to great lengths to paint President U Htin Kyaw’s recent four-day visit as a historic cementing of bilateral ties. The neighbouring countries’ relations, long overshadowed by China’s more aggressive overtures, have forged ahead under the National League for Democracy-led administration. U Htin Kyaw, First Lady Daw Su Su Lwin and a delegation of ministry officials were received with much fanfare when they accepted Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s invitation on August 27. Superficially, the visit appeared little more than a series of photo opportunities along with a highlights tour of religious and cultural sites, punctuated at the end by the inking of minor memoranda of understanding. The trip nevertheless dominated Myanmar state media headlines on each of the four days.
