India, Europe and Myanmar: Policy Approaches and Impact

In addressing developments in Myanmar and crafting their respective policies to cope with the changing landscape over a generation (since 1988), the European Union and India have been influenced by their geographical situations, historical circumstances, value systems and national interests. Barring a short period (1988-1991), the two sides found themselves on different sides of the diplomatic fence, with Brussels pursuing sanctions-anchored strategy and New Delhi emerging as a pragmatic advocate of constructive engagement. Progress towards political democratisation, brought by the military in 2011, created a new opening. Europe seized it to improve relations with Myanmar and adopt a broader agenda transcending democracy and human rights. Although the Rohingya crisis in mid-2017 again exposed the basic divergences in the European and Indian attitudes, there is much that they share in enabling Myanmar to deal with the complex challenges of nation-building and ethnic reconciliation.