At an international disarmament conference held in New York on April 30, Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, who represents the country’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG), issued a stark warning regarding Myanmar’s nuclear ambitions. He raised serious concerns that the ruling military junta may repurpose a planned Russian-assisted nuclear power plant for military use, possibly breaching international non-proliferation norms.
The project, announced in March 2024, is part of an agreement between junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under this deal, Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom will construct Myanmar’s first nuclear reactor in Naypyidaw, the capital. This collaboration marks a deepening of bilateral ties between Moscow and the Myanmar military, especially in the wake of Myanmar’s 2021 military coup.
Ambassador Tun criticized the junta for proceeding with construction despite a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28, which caused significant damage to infrastructure across the country. He expressed fears that the military may again misuse international aid and technology—as they reportedly did with earthquake relief supplies, which were allegedly diverted for airstrikes in conflict zones.
Of particular concern is the junta’s reluctance to engage transparently with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors nuclear safety and compliance. The ambassador accused the junta of ignoring essential protocols and being unprepared for potential nuclear emergencies, raising the specter of a disaster or deliberate misuse.
Security analysts have also raised alarms over the reactor’s location near a major military command hub in Naypyidaw. They suggest this proximity could facilitate the reactor’s weaponization or make it a strategic target in Myanmar’s ongoing internal conflict.
Myanmar ratified key international treaties banning nuclear weapons in 2017 and 2018. However, since the military takeover in February 2021, those commitments have largely unraveled. With Myanmar’s increasing dependence on Russia for military and technical support, experts warn the country could emerge as a new flashpoint for nuclear proliferation in Southeast Asia.
The UN and global watchdogs continue to urge transparency, peaceful use of nuclear energy, and adherence to international obligations. However, with escalating civil conflict and deepening international isolation, Myanmar’s nuclear trajectory remains uncertain and potentially dangerous.