U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday warned of possible sanctions on Myanmar after the Southeast Asian country’s military seized power in a coup, detaining leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other government leaders.
Calling Monday’s coup a “direct assault” on Myanmar’s transition to democracy and the rule of law, Biden said the international community should come together in “one voice” to press the Myanmar military to immediately relinquish the power it has seized and release the detained activists and officials.
The United States will work with its partners throughout the region and the world to support the restoration of democracy and to “hold accountable those responsible for overturning” Myanmar’s democratic transition, Biden said in a statement.
Noting that the United States removed sanctions on Myanmar over the past decade based on progress toward democracy, he said the reversal of the transition will “necessitate an immediate review of our sanction laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action.”
The Myanmar military, which directly ruled the country from 1962 to 2011, has announced a state of emergency to extend for one year and that the military chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, will lead during the period.
