A growing number of world governments Thursday curbed diplomatic ties with Myanmar and increased economic pressure on its military after a coup ended democracy there.
One of the strongest reactions was from New Zealand, which has suspended all military and high-level political contact with the country and promised to block any aid that might go to its military government or benefit its leaders. It also placed a travel ban on Myanmar's new military rulers.
"We do not recognize the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule," Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Thursday.
U.S. President Joe Biden said late Wednesday U.S. time he was issuing an executive order that would prevent Myanmar's generals from accessing $1 billion in assets in the U.S. and promised more measures, according to The Associated Press.
Biden said he would freeze U.S. assets that benefit Myanmar's military leaders while maintaining support for health care programs, civil society groups and other areas. The U.S. already has sanctions in place against some Myanmar military leaders over the killings and persecution of minority Rohingya Muslims.
In Brussels, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Europe's foreign ministers would meet Feb. 22 to review the 27-nation bloc's relations with Myanmar and explore ways to increase economic pressure. Its options might include sanctions targeting individuals and businesses owned by Myanmar's military as well as cuts in development assistance, The Associated Press reported.
The U.S. government will place sanctions on the military leaders behind the coup. Biden said the U.S. would take measures to prevent the Myanmar military officials from accessing government funds held in the country.
The planned sanctions are the strongest action taken by the U.S. since Myanmar's military seized control. Military leaders took over and arrested many politicians including its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
Following the coup, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has made himself leader. The coup sparked nationwide protests, with the public calling on the release of the arrested politicians.
"Today, I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leaders and activists. The military must relinquish power seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Myanmar, as expressed in their Nov. 8 election," Biden said.
Biden said that his administration will begin to identify the first round of targets that will be slapped with new sanctions. Biden did not mention any officials by name.
Biden reportedly already signed an executive order that would allow the immediate imposition of sanctions against the military leaders that directed the coup. Apart from restricting military leaders from getting access to the estimated $1 billion of Burmese government funds held in the U.S., the sanctions will include the freezing of accounts and business interests of their family members.
Biden previously said that the U.S. is working closely with its partners and allies to help coordinate an international response to the coup. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reportedly held a meeting to discuss possible actions to protect Myanmar's democracy.
Analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations said that the imposition of sanctions by the U.S. was to be expected. The sanctions will mainly be focused on the military, but the U.S. could extend those sanctions to additional individuals, analysts said.
