Myanmar’s military junta is attempting to leverage detained democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to broker an exit from its deepening political and military crisis, political analysts and opposition sources say.

The chairperson of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) has been held in military custody since the February 2021 coup.

For over five years, military authorities routinely blocked all requests from international diplomats, the United Nations, and ASEAN envoys to meet with her.

However, in a notable shift, the junta announced on August 3 that it had permitted Arnaud de Baque, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Myanmar, to hold a private meeting with her.

Military affairs analyst and Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) member Captain Zin Yaw told IMNA that the military regime historically turns to popular political leaders whenever it faces existential pressure.

He noted that the gesture coincides with renewed junta engagement with select ethnic armed groups in Naypyitaw.

“The military generals led by Min Aung Hlaing have reached the final stage of their political crisis, so they are using Amay Suu as a first step,” Zin Yaw said, using an affectionate honorific for Suu Kyi. “At the same time, under the banner of ‘peace,’ they are engaging with groups including the TNLA, MNDAA, and CNO/CNDF to reduce the number of active fronts while trying to suppress democratic resistance forces.”

Zin Yaw added that following recent flawed electoral maneuvers, the military plans to position Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a mediator in future peace talks to gain legitimacy domestically and internationally.

Khun Wai Htoo, Secretary of the Pa-O National Federal Council (PNFC), suggested the meeting reflects the regime's desire to re-establish ties with Western nations after years of diplomatic isolation and over-reliance on Beijing.

“The military council has realized that relying primarily on relations with China is diplomatically insufficient,” Khun Wai Htoo said. “By allowing this internationally requested meeting, the junta is making a concession—a first step toward re-engaging with Western countries.”

Opposition groups also note that after five years of military rule, the junta's failure to secure recognition at the UN and ASEAN has forced it to seek new political maneuvers.

Pro-democracy organizations, ASEAN, and the international community continue to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi alongside all political prisoners detained by the military regime.