Myanmar Flag for Myanmar

Country Spotlight

Myanmar is not believed to have either nuclear or biological weapons programs, and, despite accusations, there is no conclusive evidence of a chemical weapons program. Myanmar maintains diplomatic relations with North Korea, which is believed to contribute to Myanmar’s limited missile program. Myanmar is a party to most applicable treaties and international regimes.

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Region   East Asia and the Pacific

200 Employees of the Department of Atomic Energy

2023 Signed agreement with Russia for construction of a nuclear power plant

1992 Signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)


Nuclear

  • Party to both the NPT and Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone since early 1990s
  • Established the Department of Atomic Energy within the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1997
  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia in 2022 to cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy

Myanmar Overview


Biological

  • Maintains a limited biotechnology sector, including operation of the Biotechnology Development Center at Pathein University, established in 2004
  • Ratified the Biological Weapons Convention in 2014
  • No evidence of a biological weapons program

Myanmar Overview


Missile

  • Possesses small number of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) from Russia and China
  • Officials visited missile-related facilities in North Korea in 2008
  • Reports of missile development cooperation with North Korea in 2022

Myanmar Overview


Chemical

  • Many allegations of a covert chemical weapons program, but no verifiable evidence
  • Ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2015
  • Operates a small chemical industrial sector, but imports all its toxic industrial chemicals

Myanmar Overview

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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Bangkok Treaty

The SEANWFZ Treaty (Bangkok Treaty) preserves Southeast Asia as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free from weapons of mass destruction.

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Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

The BTWC mandates the elimination of existing biological weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using biological and toxin weapons.

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Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requires countries to destroy all chemical weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using chemical weapons.

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NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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Facilities

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NGO Declaration on the Future of Nuclear Energy 

NGO Declaration on the Future of Nuclear Energy 

At this critical juncture for action on climate change and energy security, 20 NGOs from around the globe jointly call for the efficient and responsible expansion of nuclear energy and advance six key principles for doing so. 


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