Myanmar–Saudi Arabia relations refer to the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Myanmar. Myanmar has an embassy in Riyadh while Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Yangon.

History

Saudi Arabia and Myanmar established relations in 2004.[1]

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Myanmar began to gain some notice after Myanmar began crackdowns on (Muslim) Rohingya people in 2012. Saudi Arabia largely refrained from condemning Myanmar.[2][3] However, Saudi Arabia criticized Myanmar over maltreatment of the Rohingya population and offered aid.[4][5]

Saudi Arabia has agreed to accept 250,000 Rohingyas and other Burmese Muslims since 2009.[4] With the death of King Abdullah in 2015, King Salman took a tougher approach, detaining 3,000 Rohingyas before returning them to Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2019.[4][6] In 2020, Saudi Arabia's treatment toward Rohingya refugees was conflicted: the country provided residency relief for 190,000 Burmese Muslims, while deporting another group of Rohingya refugees.[7][8]

The German state-broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, alleged that Saudi Arabia's Wahhabism might have had a role in "fueling Rohingya Muslim insurgency" in Myanmar.[9]

Burmese Muslims in Saudi Arabia integrated into the country and mostly speak Arabic. The government moved on to address the residency issues to further integrate the Burmese population.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Myanmar-Saudi Diplomatic Ties Established | ARNO". rohingya.org. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  2. ^ "Analyzing the Relationship between Myanmar and the Gulf States". Glimpse from the Globe. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  3. ^ "Business ties complicate Muslim states' response to Rohingya". apnews.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  4. ^ a b c "Saudi Arabia's Colliding Interests in Myanmar". Fair Observer. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  5. ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns Myanmar government 'policy of repression'". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  6. ^ "Saudi Arabia deports dozens of Rohingya to Bangladesh: MEE | Asia Pacific". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  7. ^ "190,000 Myanmar nationals' get residency relief in Saudi Arabia". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  8. ^ "'We have no dreams': Rohingya despair after deportation from Saudi Arabia". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  9. ^ Deutsche Welle. "Is Saudi Wahhabism fueling Rohingya Muslim insurgency? | Asia| An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW | 16.12.2016". dw.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  10. ^ "Half a century of Burmese integration in Saudi society". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 2020-10-23.

External links