US holds secret talks with Myanmar's military rulers in Tokyo

2026-10-17 · Politics · United States · Myanmar

The United States held more secret talks with Myanmar's military-backed rulers in Tokyo, sources said, their second meeting in a month as Washington steps up reengagement with the generals it shunned after their 2021 coup. It was not immediately clear what the two sides discussed. Separately, human rights groups said a young man faces imminent execution in Saudi Arabia for attending protests and funerals when he was 15 to 17, calling the use of the death penalty against people for crimes committed as children a "new low."

Why it matters：Washington's quiet reengagement with Myanmar's generals signals a shift in policy that could affect regional diplomacy and the country's isolated military regime.

Key points

• The US held secret talks with Myanmar's military rulers in Tokyo.
• It was the second such meeting in a month.
• Rights groups said a Saudi man faces execution for childhood protest attendance.

Sources (original reporting)

• The Japan Times
• The Straits Times
• The Guardian

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