US delists Myanmar arms brokers and tycoons from sanctions list

The United States has lifted sanctions on several Myanmar-linked individuals and companies, while keeping punitive measures in place against the junta’s top leaders and core military-owned businesses. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on July 24 that it had delisted several Myanmar-linked entities and individuals, including KT Services & Logistics and founder Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, MCM Group and owner Aung Hlaing Oo, arms broker Sit Taing Aung of Suntac Technologies, and businesswoman Tin Latt Min. All were originally sanctioned under President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14014, which targets those accused of aiding the military’s post-coup crackdown or committing human rights abuses. Among them, Aung Hlaing Oo—Ukraine’s honorary consul to Myanmar since 2017—was previously linked to arms deals with Ukrainian state-owned firms Ukroboronprom and Ukrspecexport. According to Justice For Myanmar (JFM), a watchdog campaigning for justice and accountability for people in Myanmar, MCM played a key role in joint projects to produce BTR-4 armored vehicles, MMT-40 light tanks, and 2SIU self-propelled howitzers for the Myanmar military. Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, a UK-Myanmar dual citizen and protégé of KBZ Bank owner Aung Ko Win, secured a long-term lease for Yangon’s Bo Aung Kyaw Port during Myanmar’s democratic transition. The port, formerly run by military conglomerate MEHL, was handed over through a deal brokered by Aung Ko Win, who had close ties to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, according to a source familiar with the arrangement. Sit Taing Aung, owner of Suntac Group and Yadanarpon Aviation Support, is the son of former junta minister Aung Phone and currently serves as Mexico’s honorary consul in Myanmar. Suntac has previously faced Western sanctions over its military ties and role in arms procurement for the Myanmar regime.According to JFM, Sit Taing Aung and Suntac are involved in the junta’s weapons manufacturing efforts and in the import of aircraft parts for military use. Despite these removals, the US continues to sanction Myanmar’s top military leaders and economic pillars. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, Vice Senior General Soe Win, and other high-ranking officers remain blacklisted for their roles in ordering mass killings, airstrikes, and crackdowns on civilians. The military’s two main conglomerates—Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanma Economic Corporation (MEC)—also remain under sanctions. These corporations generate significant revenue for the military through ventures in mining, construction, telecoms, liquor, ports, and tourism. Sanctioned individuals and entities face asset freezes and bans on transactions with US persons, but delisting restores access to global financial systems. Earlier this month, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing wrote to US President Donald Trump, requesting lower tariffs and urging a rollback of sanctions to revive trade ties. Dr. Zaw Oo, an economic advisor for the junta, welcomes the move by the US. “If this news were true, this is great news for us,” he said. “Since sanctions often impact unrelated targets such as the garment and shoe factories. This can bring us further opportunities to negotiate with the United States.”

US delists Myanmar arms brokers and tycoons from sanctions list

Delisting paves way for renewed international business ties, even as junta officials face continued blacklisting for war crimes

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