In short:
The United States has reopened direct talks with Myanmar, raising alarm among advocates and analysts.
asserted
States → reopen → advocates
It marks a reversal of efforts to isolate the military junta after it took power in a 2021 coup.
asserted
it → mark → coup
Analysts believe the US's desire to access Myanmar's rare earths could influence diplomacy.
uncertain
desire → believe → diplomacy
As US President Donald Trump prepares to meet Asian leaders in the Philippines next week for the 49th ASEAN Summit, his administration is holding secretive talks with Myanmar's military-backed government, the same regime the US has accused of genocide.
asserted
US → prepare → genocide
Five years ago, Washington imposed sanctions on Myanmar's military leadership and downgraded diplomatic ties following a 2021 coup that ousted an elected government.
asserted
that → impose → government
This year, however, senior Trump administration officials have travelled to Tokyo and Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, for talks with coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing.
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officials → travel → Hlaing
The goals of the diplomacy include countering China's influence in the region and potentially gaining access to Myanmar's "bountiful rare earth resources", according to a US State Department document.
uncertain
goals → include → document
But the outreach has raised concerns among human rights advocates that Washington's pursuit of strategic interests could help rehabilitate a military leadership accused of widespread atrocities.
"
uncertain
pursuit → raise → atrocities
It's pretty shocking and almost illogical that the US would engage in secret talks with a sham president elected by a sham election," said Debbie Stothard, chair of the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
asserted
Stothard → engage → Rights
The military junta views engagement at this level as something that's encouraging and positive for them.
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that → view → them
"They see this process as legitimising them, and that is very bad news indeed for civilians on the ground and for regional security."
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that → see → security
The diplomatic opening followed the detention of an American businessman at Yangon airport on June 11 by Myanmar authorities.
asserted
opening → follow → authorities
Adam Castillo, 40, a former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, was detained for three months after being accused of financial impropriety, allegations he denied.
asserted
he → detain → impropriety
A former US Marine, Mr Castillo was reportedly lobbying Washington to lift sanctions against Myanmar in exchange for negotiating American access to the country's vast rare earth deposits.
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Castillo → lobby → deposits
He also ran one of Myanmar's largest security companies.
asserted
He → run → companies
Mr Castillo's detention provided an opening for Washington to establish direct contact with the military leadership, said Hunter Marston, director of the Lowy Institute's Southeast Asia Program.
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Marston → provide → Program
"A delegation of US representatives travelled to Naypyidaw to secure the release … that was the supposed setting or context for the US delegation to visit Myanmar," Dr Marston said.
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Marston → travel → Myanmar
"But it also paved the way for more substantive discussions about changing US policy and engaging with the Myanmar military regime.
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it → pave → regime
It seems like his detention was essentially hostage diplomacy, and the release was used tactically to secure talks with Washington.
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release → seem → Washington
I think that played right into the hands of the Myanmar regime, but I think it also served as a useful pretext for Washington to engage in discreet talks with the military."
asserted
Washington → think → military
The race for rare earth riches
Analysts believe the discussions surrounding Mr Castillo's release may have opened the door to broader negotiations over access to Myanmar's rare earth minerals, potentially in return for a normalisation of relations.
uncertain
discussions → believe → relations
Since his release in September, meetings between senior US officials, led by Michael Vance, the Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, and Myanmar's military-backed government have continued.
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meetings → lead → Intelligence
The latest took place in Tokyo in October.
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latest → take → October
Rare earths are essential to manufacturing a wide range of modern technologies, from computer screens and electric vehicles to solar panels and advanced weapons systems.
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earths → manufacture → panels
They are also crucial for producing the semiconductors or chips that power artificial intelligence, Dr Marston said, making them "really important to a number of US business interests".
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them → produce → interests
"Whoever supplies today has the upper hand in the race for artificial intelligence," he said.
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he → supply → intelligence
While the US remains a leader in technological innovation, it is heavily dependent on foreign suppliers for the minerals needed to manufacture many of these products.
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it → remain → products
Myanmar has emerged as a major source of supply, with more than 600 rare earth mines, according to the Stimson Center.
uncertain
Myanmar → emerge → Center
Much of its output is exported to neighbouring China, which dominates the global processing of rare earths.
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which → export → earths
That dominance has become a growing concern for Washington as competition with Beijing intensifies, and the Trump administration seeks to diversify critical mineral supply chains.
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administration → become → chains
But securing access to Myanmar's deposits will be difficult.
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securing → secure → deposits
Many of the mines are located in Kachin State, near the Chinese border, in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups fighting the military government.
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Many → locate → government
Dr Marston said China's entrenched position in the industry would make it difficult for Washington to establish an alternative supply chain.
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Washington → say → chain
"It controls something like 90 per cent of the world's global rare earth production.
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It → control → production
So it's unlikely that the United States is going to succeed in circumventing Chinese control over these supply chains," he said.
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he → go → chains
For Min Aung Hlaing, however, the renewed US engagement represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough.
asserted
engagement → renew → breakthrough
The former military chief ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and became president this year following elections widely dismissed by opposition groups and international critics as a "sham".
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chief → oust → sham
Since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing has sought to rebuild relations with regional and international powers, including India, Russia, China and Myanmar's South-East Asian neighbours.
asserted
Hlaing → seek → India
Myanmar's efforts to improve its standing with the US began in July 2025, when the government hired a US lobbying firm, the DCI Group, for more than $US3 million ($4 million) a year.
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government → improve → million
The US lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of Mr Trump, is listed as a consultant for the firm.
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lobbyist → list → firm
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
