Editing Foreign relations of Myanmar (section)

==India==
{{main|India–Myanmar relations}}
{{Politics of India}}
Bilateral relations between Myanmar and the Republic of [[India]] have improved considerably since 1993, overcoming disagreements related to drug trafficking, the suppression of democracy and the rule of the [[State Peace and Development Council|military junta]] in Myanmar. Myanmar is situated to the south of the states of [[Mizoram]], [[Manipur]], [[Nagaland]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in [[Northeast India]]. The proximity of the People's Republic of China give strategic importance to Indo-Burmese relations. The Indo-Burmese border stretches over 1,600&nbsp;kilometers.<ref name="VJ">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/reports/CB21Ai01.html#top5 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120210142107/http://atimes.com/reports/CB21Ai01.html#top5 |url-status=unfit |archive-date=2012-02-10 |title=Myanmar shows India the road to Southeast Asia |work=Asia Times }}</ref> India is generally friendly with Myanmar, but is concerned by the flow of tribal refugees and the arrest of [[Aung San Suu Kyi]].

As a result of increased Chinese influence in Myanmar as well as the safe haven and [[arms trafficking]] occurring along the Indo-Burmese border, India has sought in recent years to refurbish ties with the [[Union of Burma]].<ref>Jagan, Larry. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1168156.stm India's road to Rangoon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040520044720/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1168156.stm |date=20 May 2004 }}. BBC News Online. 14 February 2001</ref><ref>"India, Burma to discuss insurgency, arms smuggling in Rangoon". Press Trust of India. 11 October 2005</ref> Numerous economic arrangements have been established including a roadway connecting the isolated provinces of Northeastern India with [[Mandalay]] which opens up trade with China, Myanmar, and gives access to the Burmese ports. Relations between India and Myanmar have been strained in the past however due to India's continuing support for the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.<ref>Bhattacharyya, Anushree. "India-Myanmar Relations". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). 18 September 2007</ref>

In an interview on the [[BBC]], [[George Fernandes]], former Indian Defence Minister and prominent Myanmar critic, said that [[Coco Island]] was part of India until it was donated to Myanmar by former [[Prime Minister of India]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Coco Island is located at 18&nbsp;km from the Indian [[Nicobar Islands]].<ref>Nanda (2003), p. 596</ref>

Myanmar has a fully operating embassy based in New Delhi and India has one in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. Like the PRC, the Republic of India maintains a [[Consulate-General]] in Mandalay.

The relationship between Myanmar and India has been complicated by allegations that India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has engaged in covert operations to influence Myanmar's internal politics. Reports suggest that RAW has established ties with various ethnic insurgent groups in Myanmar, particularly in the northeastern states bordering India. This has raised concerns that India might be conducting a proxy war to exert control over Myanmar's government and counterbalance Chinese influence in the region. By supporting these insurgent groups, India aims to secure its own border and prevent the spillover of conflict into its northeastern states. However, this strategy has led to accusations of interference in Myanmar’s sovereignty. The military junta in Myanmar views such actions as destabilizing, leading to further strain in diplomatic relations. These covert operations have created a complex web of alliances and enmities, as India navigates its interests while attempting to maintain a semblance of cooperative relations with the Myanmar government. Consequently, the use of proxy forces has not only complicated India's relationship with Myanmar but has also heightened tensions within the region, raising questions about long-term stability and governance in Myanmar itself.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

===Economic relations===
India is the largest market for Burmese exports, buying about US$220 million worth of goods in 2000; India's exports to Myanmar stood at US$75.36 million.<ref name="VJ" /> India is Myanmar's 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, the PRC and Singapore, and second largest export market after Thailand, absorbing 25 percent of its total exports.<ref name="HJ">{{cite web |url=http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=9085 |title=Global Politician – India-Myanmar Trade Relations |publisher=Bilaterals.org |access-date=12 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212183558/http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=9085 |archive-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> India is also the seventh most important source of Myanmar's imports. The governments of India and Myanmar had set a target of achieving $1 billion and bilateral trade reached US$650 million by 2006.<ref name="HJ" /> The Indian government has worked to extend air, land and sea routes to strengthen trade links with Myanmar and establish a gas pipeline.<ref name="HJ" /><ref name="G">{{cite news |last=Bhaumik |first=Subir |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7013975.stm |title=South Asia &#124; Explaining India's silence over Burma |work=BBC News |date=26 September 2007 |access-date=12 January 2013 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021192313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7013975.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> While the involvement of India's private sector has been low and growing at a slow pace, both governments are proceeding to enhance co-operation in agriculture, telecommunications, information technology, steel, oil, natural gas, [[hydrocarbon]]s and food processing.<ref name="HJ" /><ref name="G" /> The bilateral border trade agreement of 1994 provides for border trade to be carried out from three designated border points, one each in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.<ref name="HJ" />

On 13 February 2001 India and Myanmar inaugurated a major 160 kilometre highway, called the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road, built mainly by the [[Indian Army]]'s [[Border Roads Organisation]] and aimed to provide a major strategic and commercial transport route connecting [[North-East India]], and South Asia as a whole, to Southeast Asia.<ref name="VJ" />

India and Myanmar have agreed to a four-lane, 3200&nbsp;km triangular highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand. The route, which is expected to be completed by sometime during 2018, will run from India's northeastern states into Myanmar, where over 1,600&nbsp;km of roads will be built or improved. The first phase connecting [[Guwahati]] to Mandalay is set to complete by 2016. This will eventually be extended to [[Cambodia]] and [[Vietnam]]. This is aimed at creating a new economic zone ranging from [[Kolkata]] on the Bay of Bengal to [[Ho Chi Minh City]] on the South China Sea.<ref name="TH">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9297354/India-to-open-super-highway-to-Burma-and-Thailand.html |title=Triangular Highway connecting India, Burma, Thailand |work=The Telegraph |date=29 May 2012 |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724063528/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9297354/India-to-open-super-highway-to-Burma-and-Thailand.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Operation Leech ===
Operation ''Leech'' is the name given to an armed operation on the Indo-Burmese border in 1998. India has sought to install friendly governments in the Southeast Asia region. To these ends, India's external [[intelligence agency]], [[Research and Analysis Wing|R&AW]], cultivated Burmese rebel groups and pro-democracy coalitions, especially the [[Kachin Independence Army]] (KIA).<ref>Larry Jagan, [[BBC]] Online, 4 July 2000</ref> India allowed the KIA to carry a limited trade in [[jade]] and precious stones using Indian territory and even supplied them with weapons.

However, with increasing bonhomie between the Indian government and the Burmese junta, the KIA became the main source of training and weapons for all northeastern rebel groups in India. Thus, R&AW initiated Operation ''Leech'', with the help of [[Indian Army]] and paramilitary forces, to assassinate the leaders of the Burmese rebels as an example to other groups.<ref>Subir Bhaumik (June 2005). [http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm Guns, drugs and rebel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923193152/http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm |date=23 September 2009 }} ''India-seminar.com''. Retrieved 26 October 2007.</ref>