WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden, facing his first major international crisis after Myanmar’s military seized power, could impose a new program of sanctions, cut aid or target generals and the companies they run to pressure for a return to democracy.
How the new U.S. administration responds will be an early test of Biden’s dual pledges to re-center human rights in U.S. foreign policy and work more closely with allies.
Biden on Monday pledged to “stand up for democracy” and threatened to re-impose sanctions gradually rolled back by former President Barack Obama after Myanmar’s generals initiated democratic reforms and released many political prisoners a decade ago.
State Department officials said on Tuesday they had determined that a military coup had taken place.
Under U.S. law, that assessment automatically puts restrictions on U.S. assistance to Myanmar, but officials said aid programs promoting democracy and humanitarian assistance to populations in need, including…