Here’s Why Biden Hasn’t Called Myanmar’s Military Takeover A Coup - Forbes

Topline

President Joe Biden condemned Myanmar’s military takeover on Monday but — unlike some foreign leaders — did not call the incident a coup, a phrase multiple news outlets report is under debate because deeming it a coup would force the United States to cut off aid.

Key Facts

The Biden administration is still discussing whether to refer to the Myanmar military’s arrest of civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and takeover of the country’s government as a coup, two unnamed officials told CNN and Politico on Monday.

A senior State Department official told Forbes: "Recent events in [Myanmar] obviously have the makings of a coup, but the State Department is doing the required legal and factual analysis. We will await the outcome before making an assessment."

This analysis is more than just a debate over word choice: Under federal law, the United States is required to sever most forms of military, economic and development aid to countries where the military has ousted the duly elected government in a coup d’etat.

Even though Biden has not used the word “coup,” he called it a “seizure of power” and an “assault” on democracy, threatening to reimpose sanctions that were lifted more than four years ago after Myanmar transitioned from military dictatorship to democracy.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Big Number

$216.4 million. That’s how much foreign aid the United States sent to Myanmar in 2019, the last year when complete data was available, according to figures from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Trump administration cut off some forms of military aid in 2017, after the Myanmar military was accused of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya people, but the United States still sends money for economic development and election integrity programs, much of which could be severed if the military takeover is deemed a coup.

Tangent

Some foreign leaders have called the Myanmar military’s actions a “coup,” including U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Council President Charles Michel. Meanwhile, other U.S. allies like Canada, Japan and Australia did not use the word in official statements.

Surprising Fact

The United States faced a similar dilemma in 2013, when Egypt’s military ousted President Mohamed Morsi and seized control of the government. Bucking many experts’ suggestions, former President Barack Obama did not call the situation a coup, allowing Egypt to remain the second largest recipient of U.S. aid after Israel. Obama temporarily froze some military assistance to the country in response, but he eventually lifted those restrictions.

Key Background

On Monday, Myanmar’s military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials, declared a state of emergency for one year and handed governing power to the military’s commander in chief. Military officials claimed an election won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party last year was awash with fraud, invoking a clause in the constitution that allows the armed forces to take over the country’s government. This coup has effectively returned Myanmar to military rule and threatened the country’s delicate decade-long stint as a civilian-led democracy, which began when the military backed away from almost 50 years of dictatorship in 2011.

Further Reading

Biden administration debating whether to call military takeover in Myanmar a 'coup' (CNN)

Myanmar’s Coup, Explained (New York Times)

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Here’s Why Biden Hasn’t Called Myanmar’s Military Takeover A Coup - Forbes
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