Myanmar military pleads ‘major cabinet reshuffle’ in coup
Myanmar’s military proves it cannot loosen its grip on the country, but it will still have no trouble obtaining equipment from non-Western sources.
Myanmar returned to old ways of military dictatorship after the country’s armed forces, led by Min Aung Hlaing, conducted a coup d’état in the early hours of 1 February. The Burmese general declared a year-long state of emergency in the nation’s first coup since 1988.
Soldiers equipped with armoured vehicles blocked roads, seized important infrastructure such as television stations, and arrested President Win Myiny, State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi and many members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) in a series of raids.
The opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) backed by the Tatmadaw had lost
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation]()
Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation
European law enforcement and public security agencies are entering a new cycle of investment in personal protection equipment (PPE), driven by evolving threat profiles, officer welfare requirements and advances in materials technology.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities]()
Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities
Eurosatory 2026 will reflect a defence and security sector shaped by conflict, rising government spending, uncrewed systems, multidomain networks and growing demand for sovereign capabilities.
-
![Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP]()
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.
