The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Air Force, Gen Htun Aung, has visited Thailand on an invitation from his Thai counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Wannarot. No official report on the visit has been released. In the meantime, the Myanmar Air Force carried out an air strike against the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), resulting in casualties.

On 3 July 2023, veteran military reporter Wassana Nanuam reported that Gen Htun Aung arrived in Thailand on 28 June 2023 on an invitation from the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). Wassana added that Htun Aung went back to Myanmar on 1 July 2023. The Royal Thai Air Force has not yet released any official report regarding this visit.

Prachatai examined the website of the Myanmar Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and found the same information.

Photo from the Myanmar Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services

On 2 July 2023, Thai PBS reported that the Myanmar Air Force carried out an air strike against the KNLA, forcing over 4,000 people to flee from Myanmar into Mae Hong Son Province, according to the Thai-Myanmar Border Command Centre.

ACM Alongkorn previously met Gen Htun Aung in November 2022 at the 19th ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference in Lao PDR. At the time, ACM Alongkorn had recently been appointed RTAF commander-in-chief.

ACM Alongkorn(on the left) and Gen Htun Aung(on the right)

Photo from RTAF

A news release on the 2022 meeting on the RTAF website stated that both Myanmar and Thailand affirmed good relations without the intention of threatening each other. They also emphasized the importance of establishing communication channels in emergency situations in order to prevent misunderstanding, organize exchange visits, and carry out activities through an Air Working Group.