Boise City Wire

U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), have sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power. The letter urges the development of a proactive policy on Burma, citing the rapidly evolving situation in the country’s civil conflict.

“As the risk rises of a prolonged stalemate in the conflict, resulting in a permanently fragmented state, it is imperative that the U.S. government has a comprehensive and forward-leaning strategy on Burma. We urgently need a revitalized approach, which will better support resistance forces within the country who are courageously standing up to the brutality of the military junta,” wrote the senators.

“The United States has stood with the Burmese people for decades against this oppressive military regime, and we must not cede U.S. leadership at this critical inflection point, but rather do everything in our power to support the hopes and aspirations of the people of Burma, from all of its diverse communities, for a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future,” they continued.

The full text of their letter outlines concerns about what they perceive as a failure to address adequately the evolving situation in Burma. The senators emphasize that reinvigorated diplomacy is needed to unite pro-democracy groups and ethnic organizations crucial for forming a future democratic government with an inclusive federalist framework in Burma.

The letter also highlights China's strategic interests in manipulating all sides of the conflict. It calls for creative multilateral diplomacy involving ASEAN and key Indo-Pacific partners such as Thailand, Japan, and India. The senators stress that multilateral support for various resistance groups will be essential for establishing a stable democratic political future in Burma.

Additionally, they urge revisiting sanctions on Burma and exploring new accountability actions targeting sectors like aviation fuel to maintain pressure on the junta. They commend efforts made with Singapore to constrain weapon flows to the regime but express hope for similar cooperation with other regional countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

Concerns are also raised over what they describe as insufficient implementation by the State Department and USAID regarding non-lethal assistance provisions under the Burma Act. They argue that providing resistance groups with non-lethal items such as medical equipment and early warning radar systems could offer protection against regime attacks.

The senators reaffirm Congress’ willingness to coordinate closely with relevant authorities to find strategic ways to assist Burmese people while avoiding prolonged conflict that could impact broader regional stability.