US Sanctions Burma Defense Ministry, Banks Over Russian Arms Imports

The Burmese military with shields moves forward during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Burma, on March 2, 2021. AP Photo

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned Burma’s Defense Ministry and two regime-controlled banks for their alleged roles in the junta’s weapon purchases from sanctioned entities in Russia.

The sanctions targeted the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and Myanmar Investment and Commercial Bank, which were used by the junta for foreign currency exchanges and buying arms from foreign sources.