Additionally, the United States and its democratic allies should use their diplomatic leverage to urge all member states to follow the resolution of the UN General Assembly to halt the flow of arms into Burma and to cut the junta and its collaborators off from external financial sources until they meet specific expectations related to ending violence and returning democratic governance to Burma. 

Such an approach by the Biden administration would send a clear signal to the Tatmadaw that the cause of democracy has solid support across the world and that the United States and its allies have a firm commitment to taking practical action. The junta will be more willing to consider ASEAN’s five-point consensus and end the violence when they know their opponents are not weak and their death-grip on political power is unsustainable. 

Ye Myo Hein is the executive director of the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies (TIPS), and a fellow with the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He is a researcher who is primarily focused on the study of civil-military relations and transitional politics of Myanmar. 

 Image: Reuters