WEB DESK
Myanmar’s navy will join maritime drills with the US in Southeast Asia next week. The inclusion in the drills does not violate US travel bans against Myanmar’s top army brass over the Rohingya crisis.
A spokesman for the commander-in-chief’s office in Myanmar said the exercise, starting in the Gulf of Thailand on 2nd of next month, focuses on crime, piracy and security, and the travel bans were separate issues.
He said the sanctions imposed were personal and this exercise is a coordination between ASEAN and the US. He said Myanmar is invited as part of ASEAN for the exercise.
In a media advisory, the US State Department said the drills with the 10 nations of the regional bloc provide an opportunity to work with all members of ASEAN on shared maritime security priorities in the region.