Why the US is holding secret talks with Myanmar’s military ruler
News Source
•Sun, 18 Oct 2026 18:22:11 +0000
📰 What Happened
The United States is holding secret talks with Myanmar's military ruler, according to an Al Jazeera report. The general leads a military that has been accused of genocide.
The report says human rights are not the main subject. It points to three things behind the talks: America's hunt for rare earth metals, a detained businessman, and a paid lobbying deal involving a friend of President Donald Trump.
🔍 The Backstory
Myanmar's army seized power in a coup in February 2021. It jailed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and crushed street protests. Western countries answered with sanctions.
In 2017 the army pushed more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims out of the country. The United Nations said the campaign had "genocidal intent".
The country also sits on large deposits of rare earths. These metals go into magnets, phones and electric car motors. China controls most of the world supply, so Washington is looking for other sources.
🎯 Why It Matters
Rare earths end up in phones and electric cars, so deals like this can reach ordinary prices. It also shows how trade needs can push human rights concerns to one side.
The United States is holding secret talks with Myanmar's military ruler, according to an Al Jazeera report. The general leads a military that has been accused of genocide.
The report says human rights are not the main subject. It points to three things behind the talks: America's hunt for rare earth metals, a detained businessman, and a paid lobbying deal involving a friend of President Donald Trump.
Myanmar's army seized power in a coup in February 2021. It jailed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and crushed street protests. Western countries answered with sanctions.
In 2017 the army pushed more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims out of the country. The United Nations said the campaign had "genocidal intent".
The country also sits on large deposits of rare earths. These metals go into magnets, phones and electric car motors. China controls most of the world supply, so Washington is looking for other sources.
Rare earths end up in phones and electric cars, so deals like this can reach ordinary prices. It also shows how trade needs can push human rights concerns to one side.