• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • Australian aid

    In Brief: Australia severs military ties with Myanmar

    More than a month after the Myanmar military took control of the country in a coup, Australia has formally cut ties with its military.

    By Lisa Cornish // 08 March 2021
    Marise Payne, Australia’s minister for foreign affairs. Photo by: Antoine Tardy / U.N. / CC BY-NC-ND

    More than a month after the Myanmar military took control of the country in a coup, Australia has formally cut ties with its military.

    In a statement released on March 7, foreign minister Marise Payne said: “Australia has had a limited bilateral Defence Cooperation Program with Myanmar's military, restricted to non-combat areas such as English language training. This program will be suspended.”

    Payne additionally announced Australia’s development program would be redirected to “the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and poor,” and delivery will be in partnership with non-government organizations rather than government or government-related entities.

    The announcement lags behind New Zealand and the United States, who announced measures in February, but was still welcomed by the Australian development sector.

    How this impacts Australian aid: In February a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Devex it was reviewing policies in relation to Myanmar at that time. “This is a rapidly evolving and complex situation and we will carefully consider all relevant issues before any decisions are taken,” the spokesperson said.

    Payne’s statement, and acknowledgment that DFAT partners with the Myanmar government in the delivery of some programs, means DFAT is required to identify those that can be seen as benefiting the military in the country. Decisions will need to be made about programs impacted — whether they can be altered to be delivered through alternate channels, whether they should be canceled, and where funds from canceled projects should be redirected.

    What to watch: Japan is facing increasing pressure to similarly cut ties with programs that could support the military junta. In February, Devex was informed by Eri Kimura, head of public relations for the Japan International Cooperation Agency Myanmar office, that decisions were still to be made on changes to development assistance. The expectation for an official decision is high.

    • Trade & Policy
    • Funding
    • DFAT
    • Myanmar
    • Australia
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • Lisa Cornish

      Lisa Cornishlisa_cornish

      Lisa Cornish is a former Devex Senior Reporter based in Canberra, where she focuses on the Australian aid community. Lisa has worked with News Corp Australia as a data journalist and has been published throughout Australia in the Daily Telegraph in Melbourne, Herald Sun in Melbourne, Courier-Mail in Brisbane, and online through news.com.au. Lisa additionally consults with Australian government providing data analytics, reporting and visualization services.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    UK AidWith FCDO slashing budgets, where will UK NGOs turn for funding?

    With FCDO slashing budgets, where will UK NGOs turn for funding?

    The Trump EffectUS aid tracker: Following Trump’s cuts to international development

    US aid tracker: Following Trump’s cuts to international development

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      Strengthening health systems by measuring what really matters
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement