Weaponizing Enlightened Economics: A U.S. Strategy for Stability and Strength in Burma
Based on the analysis of “Weaponization of U.S. Economic Engagement in Burma,” authored by Col. (Ret.) Tim Heinemann
As the world grapples with geopolitical uncertainty and expanding authoritarian influence, Burma (Myanmar) stands as a decisive test of America's ability to lead through values-driven, economic diplomacy. The compelling 2018 report, “Weaponization of U.S. Economic Engagement in Burma,” authored by Col. Tim Heinemann (ret.), outlines a robust strategy that mirrors many principles embedded in the 2017 U.S. National Security Strategy—and it strikingly aligns with key aspects of former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy doctrine.
Burma: Not Post-Conflict, But Irregular War
The central thesis of the report is clear: Burma is not transitioning from war—it is still at war. The Burmese generals have weaponized international legitimacy and investment to strengthen their grip on power, especially over ethnic minorities whose lands hold vast natural resources. The report starkly illustrates the military’s use of tactics—ranging from forced displacement to rape and genocide—as part of an economic model based on land seizure and authoritarian control.
U.S. National Security Strategy: The Right Playbook
Drawing directly from the 2017 U.S. National Security Strategy, the report argues for “enlightened economic competition”—a model that uses the power of American capitalism, not military might, to stabilize volatile regions. This approach emphasizes:
Shared prosperity as the pathway to national unity;
Ethnic States’ rights and decentralization over centralized tyranny;
Private sector engagement over traditional foreign aid;
And economic pressure to induce reform, not blind diplomatic minimalism.
Alignment with Trump-Era Foreign Policy
This strategy closely reflects several of President Trump’s core foreign policy principles:
Avoiding endless wars by leaning on economic strength instead of military intervention;
Competing with China through strategic trade and influence, especially in Indo-Pacific flashpoints like Burma;
Using transactional diplomacy and pressure to leverage better outcomes;
And viewing U.S. business engagement as a tool of national security, rather than separate from it.
Indeed, the report praises U.S. economy-of-force efforts that rely on values-based capitalism, reducing the cost to taxpayers while delivering regional stability—principles echoed throughout the Trump administration’s doctrine.
Where It Challenges the Trump Approach
However, the report also highlights areas where Trump’s style could hinder progress in Burma:
It urges nuanced engagement with ethnic minorities and civil society, whereas President Trump's diplomacy often focused on big-name leaders and deals. It is critical for the Trump administration to understand federalism is not the answer, as it continues the Burman elite domination over the ethnic people that are all capable of self-governance as independent states.
It emphasizes the importance of states’ rights and decentralization—an approach that requires sustained, grassroots involvement that the Trump administration largely sidestepped. President Trump has voiced he wants to solve the problem, but he needs to understand the dynamics. For example, the Kachin pastor that met with President Trump in the Oval Office in 2019 has since been imprisoned by the Burmese military for six years as a result of his speaking out.
It recommends avoiding binary “friend or foe” policies, advocating instead for a balanced strategy that engages both reformable actors and long-silenced voices of resistance.
Strategic Opportunity, Not Humanitarian Guilt
Most notably, the document avoids framing Burma as merely a humanitarian concern. Instead, it frames Burma as a strategic opportunity where U.S. engagement can counteract China’s economic colonialism, disrupt the rise of Islamic extremism, and prevent Burma from becoming the next Afghanistan.
The solution? Weaponize America’s greatest strength: fair, transparent capitalism grounded in democratic values. Use economic tools to create partnerships, unlock potential, and build national resilience—starting with Burma’s marginalized but resource-rich ethnic states.
A Policy Blueprint Worth Following
This document is more than a reconnaissance report—it’s a strategic blueprint. It fuses conservative realism with humanitarian pragmatism, and positions the U.S. as a moral economic leader in a region long fractured by authoritarianism and corruption.
Burma may not yet be a beacon of democracy—but it could become America’s next great foreign policy success. Only if we lead with clarity, courage, and competitive conviction.
Cited Work:
Heinemann, T. (2018). Weaponization of U.S. Economic Engagement in Burma: Operationalizing U.S. National Security Strategy Economics. Private Sector Initiative, Condition Setting Report.
