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.
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History
editSaudi 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Myanmar-Saudi Diplomatic Ties Established | ARNO". rohingya.org. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "Analyzing the Relationship between Myanmar and the Gulf States". Glimpse from the Globe. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "Business ties complicate Muslim states' response to Rohingya". apnews.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ a b c "Saudi Arabia's Colliding Interests in Myanmar". Fair Observer. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns Myanmar government 'policy of repression'". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia deports dozens of Rohingya to Bangladesh: MEE | Asia Pacific". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "190,000 Myanmar nationals' get residency relief in Saudi Arabia". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ "'We have no dreams': Rohingya despair after deportation from Saudi Arabia". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Half a century of Burmese integration in Saudi society". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 2020-10-23.