The Pentagon goes to Burma

The Obama administration’s aggressive push to thaw relations with Burma mostly has left the Pentagon out of things. Until now.

Vikram Singh, deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, has joined the latest U.S. delegation visiting Burma this week, reflecting the Pentagon’s desire to get the ball rolling between Burma’s military and the U.S. armed forces.

There is plenty of incentive to open Burmese doors, from Washington’s perspective. As the regime continues to open up and demonstrate reforms in democracy, human rights, and internal ethnic battles, so too has it weakened its ties to North Korea. The U.S. has been particularly concerned by Burma’s agreements with North Korea to help the southeast Asian nation develop medium-range ballistic missiles.

Currently, the U.S. has no official bilateral military ties with Burma. But the easing of sanctions in July allows U.S. companies to provide financial services to Burma’s defense ministry.

For Singh’s trip, part of the U.S.-Burma Human Rights Dialogue, here is the official line, from a prepared statement provided by Maj. Cathy Wilkinson, a DOD spokeswoman. “The official U.S. Government policy regarding defense activities with Burma remains one of disengagement, except in limited humanitarian and diplomatic instances.”

But Wilkinson later explained more, saying "His presence demonstrates the DOD[‘s]  support for human rights and civilian authority."

Officially, DOD like the rest of the U.S. government praises Buremse reforms. But Pentagon officials make clear where they stand. The rest of the statement reads:

Much work is left to be done in these areas, but the United States is interested in supporting Burma in these efforts.  A resumption of bilateral defense ties can only occur with additional progress and we hope that the Burmese military will continue to support the civilian government, promote and accept its reforms, and improve its human rights record.

Respect for human rights, civilian oversight over the military, and transparency are hallmarks of all modern, professional militaries and the key to their legitimacy with their own people.  The United States Defense Department takes its responsibilities in these areas very seriously.

It’s also the latest high-level attention the administration has show the tiny nation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with President Thein Sein at the United Nations earlier this month for the third time thisyear. Deputy Secretary Burns will meet Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma later this week.

In New York, Clinton told Sein that “Burma seriously should cut off any kind of military relationship with North Korea,” according to a department official.

The official in a background briefing with reporters at the time would not reveal what level of Burmese support remains for North Korea, “but I would say that we are having a good discussion on this topic that – and we are satisfied it’s moving in the right direction.”