Mid-February 2026

Thai–Myanmar Talks Highlight Regional Engagement

PHUKET / Feb. 17, 2026

Thailand’s foreign minister met Myanmar junta Foreign Minister Than Swe in Phuket on Feb. 17, in what Thai officials described as an informal discussion aimed at encouraging dialogue and stability in Myanmar.

Bangkok said the meeting was intended to promote communication and peace efforts but stressed it should not be interpreted as endorsement of Myanmar’s recent election process or broader political roadmap.

The talks drew attention across Southeast Asia, where governments remain divided over how to engage Myanmar’s military leadership nearly five years after the 2021 coup. Thailand, which shares a long and porous border with Myanmar, has maintained working-level engagement due to security, trade and migration considerations. Source: The Irrawaddy, Feb. 17, 2026.

Resistance Disputes Control of Hpasawng

KAYAH STATE / Feb. 16–17, 2026

Karenni resistance groups reported on Feb. 16 and 17 that fighting continued in and around Hpasawng town in Kayah (Karenni) State, disputing the military’s claim that it had secured the area.

Resistance sources said junta forces re-entered parts of the town using heavy artillery and air support and that clashes persisted in surrounding zones. They described the situation as fluid, with control contested. Independent verification remains difficult due to restricted access to frontline areas.   Sources: DVB English, Feb. 16, 2026; Myanmar Peace Monitor, Feb. 17, 2026.

Myanmar Expels Timor-Leste Diplomat

YANGON / Feb. 16, 2026

Myanmar’s military government ordered the expulsion of Timor-Leste’s top representative on Feb. 16 after Dili accepted a legal complaint accusing Myanmar’s military leadership of war crimes and crimes against humanity under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

The complaint was filed by the Chin Human Rights Organization. Myanmar authorities rejected the allegations and responded by expelling the diplomat, escalating diplomatic tensions within ASEAN.

The move marks a rare instance of one Southeast Asian state initiating legal proceedings targeting another member’s leadership.

Sources: AP News, Feb. 16, 2026; The Diplomat, Feb. 16, 2026.

Military Claims Recapture of Hpasawng

KAYAH STATE / Feb. 15, 2026

Myanmar’s military said on Feb. 15 that it had regained full control of Hpasawng town following months of clashes with Karenni resistance forces.

State-aligned media reported that security clearance operations were underway and that administrative control had been restored.

Hpasawng has been strategically significant in southeastern Kayah State, where territorial control has shifted repeatedly since conflict escalated after the 2021 coup. Source: Eleven Myanmar, Feb. 15, 2026.

India Tightens Security Along Myanmar Border

MANIPUR / MIZORAM / Feb. 14–18, 2026

Indian authorities reported between Feb. 14 and Feb. 18 that explosive devices were cleared along the Manipur–Myanmar border and security patrols were intensified.

In Mizoram state, sections of the border were temporarily closed following a local security incident. Officials cited precautionary measures amid concerns about instability spilling over from Myanmar’s ongoing conflict.

India’s northeastern states share ethnic ties and porous terrain with communities across the border in western Myanmar, and cross-border dynamics have become increasingly sensitive since the 2021 coup.  Source: Times of India, Feb. 14–18, 2026.

Humanitarian Needs Remain Severe

MYANMAR NATIONWIDE / February 2026

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its February humanitarian update that millions across Myanmar remain in urgent need of assistance in 2026.

The agency cited ongoing armed conflict, displacement, access restrictions and funding shortfalls as key drivers of humanitarian strain. Conflict-affected regions such as Kayah State continue to face displacement and limited aid delivery.

Nearly five years after the military takeover, humanitarian agencies warn that without improved access and sustained funding, needs are likely to persist or worsen.

Source: UN OCHA Myanmar Humanitarian Update, February 2026.