Cementing Indo-Myanmar Military Ties

 Whilst  the  major powers of  the world  are  vying to indulge  Myanmar  militarily ,  the  recent  visit  of  India’s Chief  of  Army Staff to Myanmar is a step  in the right  direction to stymie China’s designs.

After almost two decades of launching its ‘Look East’ policy India has engaged Myanmar rather cautiously. Though considerable progress came with expanding border trade and infrastructure development projects, India did not think it prudent to delve into the realm of providing military aid. The important requirements of their military hardware were replenished only by China, which became Myanmar’s single largest trading partner and a mentor. The Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw) which is engaged in a long drawn internal strife with some of its ethnic groups requires to equip its troops with sophisticated equipment. The morbid   state of Myanmar’s economy dictates it to go in for the aid route rather than the trade route for the military assistance. It is a known fact that in Myanmar, the military also exercises control over government and  the  decision  making matrix of the  economy.

After 1990s, when the world shunned the military regime of Myanmar due to  allegations of human rights abuses, China not only became is  key ally but also its main arms supplier. It  supplied  arms amounting to USD1.4 billion in 1989  followed  by  another deal of USD 400 million in 1994¹ which proved to be a shot in the arm for  the waning military prowess of Tatmadaw. However, after 2011 elections and  establishment of  a democratic Government under President Thein Sein which brought  about  revolutionary  reforms, USA and countries of EU seem to be moving  in  swiftly in re-establishing the snapped ties. Recently, United Kingdom has invited 30 Myanmar officers to a prestigious defense conference. Australia is also pledging basic military engagement to support security sector reforms. US wants to restart defense training for Myanmar that was cut 25 years ago after a ruthless crackdown on protesters in 1988. It must be remembered that before sanctions were applied, the USA had  financed USD 4.7 million in military sales between 1980 and 1988 and trained 167 officers at American military schools under International Military Education and Training (IMET), a program jointly managed by the State Department and Defense Department that helps more than 120 countries². Even today the IMET alumni occupy some important positions in the military hierarchy including a current vice president.  

India’s  position vis-a-vis  other  developed  nations  is  unique,  as  it not  only  shares  common historical ties but also 1643 kilometer long border with Myanmar⁴. Tranquility of the border is a prime concern of both the countries. Due to its rugged terrain the border management can only be effective if both nations assiduously cooperate. The problem of the border gets compounded because of some insurgent groups which seek safe havens across when chased by Indian Armed forces. Good military ties with our eastern neighbour means better border management and better control over the insurgent groups operating in the Northeast. It also strengthens bilateral  ties  with  present Chair of  ASEAN community of  nations.

The  visit  of  Indian  Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh  to Myanmar  in  May 2012  was  a  watershed in the  relations  and  it  paved  the way  to further  strengthening of ties  and  laying the  foundation  of  bilateral  economic cooperation. This  was followed  by the visit of the Defence Minister, Mr AK Antony  in Jan 2013 and  the  visits of  Naval Chief and Air Chief. As  a  result of the improved  relations, both  the nations  conducted their first ever joint Naval exercise in March 2013³. Undoubtedly, India has to counter  China’s strategic moves in the region and  time  has come  now when India must assist Myanmar to augment not only its  military  equipment  but  also  provide   training  to its armed  forces personnel . Towards   this end, India  had agreed  to  assist  Myanmar in  building Offshore Patrol Vehicles(OPVs) in Indian Dockyards and also  train  their  pilots  on Russian MI-35 helicopters. India had supplied four Islander maritime patrol aircraft and naval gun-boats and a few 105mm light artillery guns, mortars, grenade-launchers and rifles. But Myanmar has asked for much more equipment, including radars, sensors and sonars for its naval frigates and corvettes⁵.

The present visit by the Army Chief from Oct 29 to Nov 1, 2013, is thus significant, both for its timing as well as for the bridges it has built. It seems China, vary of the  growing visits of Indian and western dignitaries sent its Deputy Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC), Gen Fan Changlong to  meet President Thein Sein and the Myanmar Army Chief Senior General Min Hling in October this year. Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar military and political analyst commented in ‘The Irrawaddy’ that he believed Fan Changlong also represented the Chinese Communist Party during his trip to Myanmar. He said Beijing’s concerns over Myanmar’s growing military ties with the United States and the United Kingdom could have motivated the visit. “China is very much concerned about relations between the Burmese Army and major international countries,” he said⁶. The visit by the Indian Army Chief at this point of time not only  bolsters the growing proximity between the two nations but also commences the buildup  of much needed military ties between the two armies. During this visit, Gen Bikram Singh held talks with President Thein Sein, Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, among others. Gen Singh also handed over two wargaming software packages called "Combat decision resolution" and "Infantry Company Commanders Tactical Trainer" which have been customised for training for the Myanmarese Army⁷. He also gave five hand gliders for the Defence Services Academy at Pwin Oo Lwin. Another gesture was to incorporate Myanmarese Armed Forces special training packages in the Indian Army's Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte in Mizoram.

TOI  also reported  that Myanmar Army displayed  keenness for  courses in mechanised forces like tanks and infantry combat vehicles, information technology, intelligence and English language, among other areas. The Myanmar Army chief will be visiting India in December 2013 to further cement the bond. The most significant part of the present visit of the Army Chief was the establishment of an Army training team at Myanmar. Till  now Myanmar has  not  permitted any  country  to establish any such training establishment, not even China, the closest known ally of  the last  two decades . This should  not  only  be  seen from  the  military perspective but strategically it is likely to give India an edge to further steer its economic and  strategic ties to new horizons.

Lt Col Mohinder Pal Singh is presently on study leave at Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Allahabad. Myanmar is his area of research.

Views expressed  here are  personal.

End notes

David Arnott, China-Burma Relations, Challenges  to Democratization in Burma,

Matthew Pennington, US-Myanmar Military Ties Spark Unease, The Associated Press, Sep 5, 2013.

India Myanmar All Set for Joint  Naval Exercise, TNN , Mar 11,2013

India Steps  up Military aid to Myanmar to offset China’s might, Times of India 02 Nov,2013.

Rajat Pandit, Now Antony headed for Myanmar to Bolster Defence Ties, TNN, Jan 5,2013.

Lin Thant, Burma and China to Build on Strategic  Military Relations, The Irravady, July 25, 2013.

Rajat Pandit, India Steps  up aid to Myanmar to offset China’s might, TNN Nov 1, 2013.