In terms of military power, Myanmar is quite strong compared to its neighboring countries. On the other hand, the position of the country is stronger than Bangladesh. After the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, the United States, United Kingdom and European Union countries imposed sanctions on the country. In a statement, the United Nations human rights agency called on the international community to cut financial aid and arms supplies to Myanmar’s military government. Even though Myanmar is in a state of isolation, the country’s military capabilities are not on the decline. Rather, it is increasing. The question is, who is strengthening the hands of the military junta by secretly providing arms to the country despite international sanctions.

• The weapons that Myanmar has in military power
  This year, an organization called Global Firepower published an index of the military capabilities of 142 countries in the world. Myanmar is ranked 39th. The position of Bangladesh is 46 in this list. In other words, Myanmar is 7 steps ahead of Bangladesh in terms of military strength. According to the index, the United States is now the most powerful country in the world in terms of military capabilities. It is followed by Russia, China, India and Japan.
• Myanmar ranks 18th in terms of military power among Shia countries. The country’s fleet has everything from state-of-the-art weapons to submarines and the latest surveillance technology. Year after year, the country is increasing its military capabilities, along with increasing the size of its defense budget.
  Global Fire Power Index 2022
  Myanmar ranks 18th in terms of military strength among Asian countries. The country’s fleet has everything from state-of-the-art weapons to submarines and the latest surveillance technology. Year after year, the country is increasing its military capabilities, along with increasing the size of its defense budget. According to the Global Firepower Index, Myanmar’s allocation to the defense sector in 2022 is 228 billion US dollars. At this moment, the number of soldiers in the country is not less.
• According to the 2022 Index of Global Firepower, the number of soldiers in the country’s army is approximately 450,000. And para-military forces number 50,000. Myanmar’s military capabilities in the airspace have also increased over the past few years. According to the Global Firepower Index, Myanmar has a fleet of 280 aircraft. 55 of them are fighter or interceptor aircraft. The number of training aircraft is 93 and the number of aircraft reserved for attack is 21. Besides, the number of combat aircraft carriers is 26. Myanmar has 80 helicopters and 9 attack helicopters. Among the military vehicles, the Myanmar military has a total of 664 tanks. There are 1587 armored vehicles. Besides, the number of automatic artillery guns or cannons is 190. There are 1869 towed guns. Myanmar’s military fleet has 486 rocket projectors. In addition, the country’s war fleet has a total of 155 ships. Among them are five frigates, three small warships corvettes. The number of patrol ships is 133. Myanmar has a submarine. Besides, there are two mine warfare craft. In addition, Myanmar has also bought a software called Pegasus from Israel to monitor the people of the country.

Who gives weapons to Myanmar?

According to the Global Firepower Index 2022, Myanmar has a large stockpile of weapons. The country buys all the heavy weapons from abroad. However, Myanmar has its own munitions factory to manufacture light weapons. However, in 2019, a UN fact-finding mission team called for a full embargo on arms sales to Myanmar. At that time, the team’s report stated which countries sold weapons to Myanmar. According to the report, some companies from seven countries have supplied weapons to Myanmar while the country’s minority communities are facing a humanitarian crisis due to the repression of the military junta. Of these, 14 companies from China, North Korea, India, Israel, the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine have been supplying warplanes, armored vehicles, warships, missiles and missile launchers since 2016, the report said. The report of the fact-finding mission stated that the sale of weapons or supplies to a country where there is a fear that it could be used to suppress political dissent is contrary to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the ICCPR. China is a signatory to the agreement.