Columnist says Trump’s Myanmar rare-earths push reverses US stance

Summary

A Guardian opinion column argues that the US has changed its stance toward Myanmar as President Donald Trump seeks the country’s rare earths, a shift the writer says is disastrous for democracy activists. The column contrasts this with Marco Rubio’s 2017 call, alongside 20 other US senators, for sanctions on military officials over abuses, and says military rule tightened after Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested and her party’s election victory overturned in 2021.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   18 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian’s Steve Bloomfield argues that the US has shifted its Myanmar stance as Trump seeks the country’s rare earths, contrasting this with Rubio’s past call for sanctions on military officials.