Nine countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom as well as the European Union, issued a joint statement on January 31, 2025, to mark the fourth anniversary of Myanmar’s military coup. The nations condemned escalating violence, called for urgent humanitarian access, and urged accountability for atrocities committed by the junta, according to a statement by the US Mission to ASEAN.

The statement, endorsed by Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, condemned the military regime for its “escalating violence against civilians, including human rights abuses, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as the systematic persecution and discrimination of all religious and ethnic minorities.”

Since the coup in 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in one of the Indo-Pacific’s worst crises.“The military’s airstrikes are causing civilian deaths and destroying schools, markets, places of worship, and medical facilities,” the statement stressed, highlighting a nearly 25-fold surge in airstrikes since 2021, with an average of three per day.

The anniversary of the coup was marked by protests around the world.

In Bangkok, members of the Milk Tea Alliance Thailand staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Myanmar Embassy on February 1 voicing solidarity with the people of Myanmar. Similar demonstrations were reported in other countries, reflecting global condemnation of the junta’s actions. On the same day, Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC), led by General Min Aung Hlaing, extended the country's state of emergency for another six months, a move critics said was aimed at cementing military rule. The ongoing war between the junta and resistance forces continues to devastate communities across the country, with reports of intensified fighting in both urban and rural areas.

Humanitarian needs in Myanmar have surged dramatically since the coup, with over one-third of the population—19.9mn people—requiring assistance to meet basic needs. An estimated 15.2mn people are in need of food aid, while preventable diseases are becoming increasingly common. The conflict has internally displaced 3.5mn people—an increase of nearly 1mn compared to last year—and driven thousands more to seek refuge across borders, further destabilising the region. The statement also highlighted the rise in transnational crimes, including narcotics production and trafficking, scam operations, and human trafficking, which not only harm the people of Myanmar but also impact neighbouring countries.

The nine nations cautioned that Myanmar’s current path is unsustainable, urging the junta to cease violence, release political prisoners, and engage in “genuine and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders” as critical steps toward a peaceful and democratic transition. They reaffirmed their support for ASEAN and its Five-Point Consensus, along with continued collaboration with the United Nations. The statement stressed the importance of holding the junta accountable for its atrocities, calling on the international community to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 2669 (2022). “We remain committed to standing in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and supporting their aspirations for an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous future,” the statement concluded.