A sight almost unimaginable just years ago: A shopkeeper in Yongon,

Burma's old capitol, stands among a riot of American flags, just days

before the first ever visit by an American president, Nov. 16.

Americans Eye Myanmar as 'Key Future Ally' (The Nation, Thailand)

"Make no mistake: his visit is part of a long-term strategy by U.S. decision-makers, who view this nation, which was recently the most condemned in the world, as a key future ally. ... With Obama's visit, Myanmar's future will be more or less tied to America's global strategic outlook. ... On the mainland and the archipelagic countries of South, East and Southeast Asia, China is now surrounded by countries friendly or accessible to the United States."

EDITORIAL

November 18, 2012

Thailand - The Nation - Original Article (English)

One of the faces of Burma's brutal yet apparently softening military dictatorship, Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Aung Thaw: The world may be witnessing a dramatic shift in Asian geoplitics as President Barack Obama become the first U.S. leader to visit the country and put it into Washington's column. BBC NEWS VIDEO: Burma hopes Barack Obama's visit will boost its economy, Nov. 18, 00:01:51

Even though the visit to Myanmar this week by a newly-reelected President Barack Obama will be brief, it will have a series of significant consequences for Myanmar and the region. Make no mistake: his visit is part of a long-term strategy by U.S. decision-makers, who view this nation, which was recently the most condemned in the world, as a key future ally.

America knows, now that the Thein Sein government has demonstrated a willingness to engage with the West and especially the U.S., that this is the best time to approach Myanmar. The latest supposed amnesty for political prisoners is one of Washington's demands in return for Obama's high-profile visit. And this is just the latest key request by the U.S. and other Western countries that Myanmar has been delivering on, which also include widening its democratic space, working on national reconciliation, promoting a freer media and free assembly, as well as providing international access to prisoners and other facilities.

The United States wants to ensure that Myanmar remains on the path of reform, enabling it to make more legitimate and independent decisions. For the past few years, Naypyidaw has indicated a desire to distance itself from China, for decades its main provider of aid and other forms of assistance.

Washington quickly jumped in, and over the past two years has turned the situation around. With Obama's visit, Myanmar's future will be more or less tied to America's global strategic outlook. The invitation of Myanmar to be an observer of next year's Cobra Gold military exercise was more than symbolic. The annual Thailand-U.S. exercise has become one of the newest platforms for forging closer military relations with America's allies and friends.

This widening security cooperation network comes as China is rising meteorically both economically and politically. For the first time, America has established ties with every country along China's southern flank, which for the six decades after World War II was a weak link in the American security regime. On the mainland and the archipelagic countries of South, East and Southeast Asia, China is now surrounded by countries friendly or accessible to the United States.

Furthermore, the U.S. has also regarded close ties between Myanmar and North Korea as a future threat. Over the past few years, since "intercepting" a North Korean ship thought to have violated U.N. resolutions, Washington has pressed Naypyidaw hard to sever its ties and cooperation on nuclear technology with Pyongyang. This is in keeping with Obama's push for global non-proliferation. During Obama's visit, Thailand will sign on to America's Proliferation Security Initiative.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

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