Washington will be flexible on its Myanmar sanctions

Significance

The Treasury Department soon after activated one provision of the EO by designating ten individuals in the Myanmar military and three military-linked companies for sanctions. Biden’s administration has set out the measures it could take to increase pressure on the junta.

Impacts

• International confidence in Myanmar’s business environment will fall as the junta tightens its grip and protests widen.
• The diversion of global attention from the Rohingya crisis will enable the Myanmar military to tighten control over Rakhine State.
• Periodic internet blackouts will make it harder for external observers to monitor the situation in Myanmar.