The United States and Myanmar’s military-backed government have held a second round of talks within a month, signalling renewed engagement between Washington and the military leadership that seized power in the 2021 coup.

The meeting took place in Tokyo last week, following discussions in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, in mid-September. According to Reuters, three people familiar with the talks confirmed the latest engagement, which involved more than a dozen US officials. Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Michael Vance reportedly led the American delegation.

The earlier meeting between Vance and Myanmar’s military leader-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing, focused on securing the release of an American businessman and shutting down scam centres targeting US citizens. The latest talks could open the door to wider discussions on economic and strategic cooperation, including access to Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits.

Scam centres operating in Myanmar have been linked to extensive online fraud, costing victims billions of dollars. However, many facilities are located in territories controlled by military-aligned militias and ethnic armed groups, raising questions about the authorities’ ability and willingness to dismantle the networks.

Washington is also interested in Myanmar’s heavy rare-earth resources, which are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other advanced technologies. But many deposits lie in areas controlled by armed groups fighting the military, while China remains the main buyer of Myanmar’s rare earths.

The renewed engagement comes as the Trump administration reassesses its approach to Myanmar. Last week, Washington lifted sanctions on the daughter of a businessman accused of supporting the military, with the State Department saying it would pursue dialogue with groups involved in the country’s civil war.

Min Aung Hlaing, however, remains under US sanctions over human rights abuses, including the 2016–2017 mass killings and expulsion of Rohingya Muslims, which Washington formally recognised as genocide in 2022. The military has also faced international criticism over deadly airstrikes and its suppression of opposition since the coup.

Japan, which hosted the latest meeting, has also shown signs of cautiously reopening diplomatic channels with Myanmar’s military-backed administration. Tokyo condemned the 2021 coup but did not impose sanctions comparable to those introduced by the United States and other Western governments.

The latest talks highlight Washington’s growing interest in security and critical mineral supplies, although Myanmar’s continuing civil war, territorial divisions and China’s influence remain major obstacles to broader cooperation.

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