| Abstract: | Myanmar’s bifurcated post-coup foreign policy exemplifies sophisticated diplomatic strategies under extreme international pressure. Following the 2017 Rohingya crisis and the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has demonstrated remarkable resilience in navigating diplomatic isolation through strategic recalibration. The military-led State Administration Council (SAC) since 2021 has adeptly pursued a multifaceted foreign policy approach, counterbalancing the regional dominance of China by cultivating nuanced relationships with key states, including Russia, Japan, India, and Thailand. Concurrently, the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) has secured incremental international recognition, particularly among Western nations. This diplomatic duality challenges conventional theoretical paradigms of state behaviour during conflict, transcending traditional power negotiation models. Instead of adopting predictable alignment or direct confrontation strategies, both agencies in Myanmar have implemented complex hedging mechanisms to preserve agency through sophisticated, multi-dimensional engagement. The nation’s bifurcated diplomatic response represents an innovative framework wherein politically marginalised and internally fragmented states can maintain strategic autonomy by deploying adaptive, context-responsive diplomatic strategies. This approach underscores the potential for peripheral states in the international order to negotiate complex geopolitical landscapes. |
