Despite extensive sanctions and international pressure following the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s natural gas exports have continued to generate significant foreign currency revenues for the military government.
Using Myanmar as a case study, this article argues that the principal constraint on sanctions has not been a lack of legal authority or political will, but the realities of energy security. Myanmar’s offshore gas sector is deeply embedded within regional energy networks that continue to serve the strategic and economic interests of neighbouring states, creating dependencies that complicate efforts to disrupt those revenue streams.
