GIS Weekly Brief #18

?? Weekly update by Prince Michael von Liechtenstein

Myanmar is a large country on the Bay of Bengal. It shares northern and northeastern borders with China, has a small maritime border with Laos, and a long southern border with Thailand. To the west, it borders India and Bangladesh. Formerly known as Burma (until 1989), the country has more than 50 million inhabitants. Once a popular tourist destination, it is now ruled by a ruthless junta and embroiled in civil war. Tourists no longer visit this beautiful country.?

In recent years, Myanmar has been known for its brutal and murderous treatment of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority. Millions have fled the country. Although Myanmar is majority Buddhist, the form of Buddhism practiced there sometimes contrasts with the peaceful image many Europeans and Americans associate with the religion.

However, in the civil war, the military junta is losing significant ground. Unfortunately, the insurgents are also unlikely to treat the Rohingya fairly.

Due to Myanmar's size and strategic position, neither India, China, nor other ASEAN countries (Myanmar is also part of ASEAN) want to antagonize the regime too strongly. It is likely that the civil war will continue, with no good solution for the Rohingya in the near future.

?? This week’s relevant geopolitical events

• Moldova’s presidential election heads to a run-off?amid allegations of massive vote-buying and foreign interference, while the?EU accession referendum remains on a knife-edge, with the diaspora vote potentially decisive.
• EU leaders discussed the controversial proposal of offshore “return hubs”?for rejected asylum seekers, signaling a shift toward tougher migration policies in Europe.
• Israeli forces confirmed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a key architect of the October 7, 2023 attack, marking a pivotal moment in the Israel-Gaza conflict and potentially opening the door to ceasefire talks.

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