As Trump Lifts Sanctions on Myanmar Elites, Is He Eyeing the Country’s Rare Earth Reserves?

As Trump lifts sanctions on Myanmar elites, is he eyeing the country’s rare earth reserves?

The military junta that overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021 is preparing the ground for national elections in December and January. The junta’s hope is these deeply flawed elections would consolidate its power and provide it with a fig leaf of legitimacy. Helping its cause are moves by the Trump administration indicating it may be looking to bring the Myanmar junta in from the cold. A week ago, US President Donald Trump…

Trump’s Myanmar Strategy Backfires as Rare Earth Realities Set In

The Trump administration’s recent push to secure Myanmar’s rare earth minerals reveals a deep misunderstanding of the country’s complex political landscape. Control of critical mining operations by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) presents a no-win situation for U.S. policy. Despite lifting sanctions on Myanmar junta allies in July 2025 and considering direct engagement with ethnic rebel groups, American officials are quickly learning that sou…