The U.S. is implementing its first penalties against Myanmar's military leaders after declaring their overthrow of the democratically elected government last week a coup d'état.
With financial sanctions on 10 leaders and three military-owned businesses, re-imposed restrictions on U.S. exports, and the diversion of over $42 million of U.S. assistance, President Joe Biden hopes to send a strong signal to the military to reverse course. But his response has also become a signal to other governments that may be watching closely as the new president faces his first foreign policy crisis.
Key to that, Biden and his top advisers have said, is working with "like-minded allies and partners," but Thursday's actions were taken alone, and some analysts say the U.S. penalties are likely to have little effect on Myanmar's military leaders who have defied external pressure for decades, especially without other countries' involvement so far.
Still, the swift action, just 10 days after the U.S. State Department's "coup" declaration, signals to the people of Myanmar, also known as Burma, that the international community is watching, as thousands took to the streets again Thursday in sustained protests.
