National Defence and Security Council (Myanmar)
| အမျိုးသားကာကွယ်ရေးနှင့် လုံခြုံရေးကောင်စီ | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 30 March 2011 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Myanmar |
| Headquarters |
|
Agency executive | |
| Website | Official website |
The National Defence and Security Council (Burmese: အမျိုးသား ကာကွယ်ရေးနှင့် လုံခြုံရေး ကောင်စီ, Burmese pronunciation: [əmjóðá kàkwɛ̀jé n̥ḭɴ lòʊɴdʑòʊɴjé kàʊɴsì]; abbreviated NDSC) is an eleven-member national security council responsible for security and defence affairs in Myanmar.[1] Though the president is the chief executive of the government of Myanmar, the 2008 Constitution reserves certain important executive powers for the NDSC and certain actions of the president and the Tatmadaw (military) require approval by the NDSC. Of the 11 members, the commander-in-chief of defence services appoints 5 members and controls 6 votes.[2][3][4][5][6] The NDSC's existence is enshrined in Chapter V of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar,[7] and it was formed on 31 March 2011.[8][3]
A meeting of the NDSC can only be called by the president, which was never done during the National League for Democracy's 2016–2021 time in power.[1] After President Win Myint refused to call a meeting of the NDSC to address the Tatmadaw's baseless allegations of massive voter fraud in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing executed a coup on 1 February 2021, removing Win Myint and installing Myint Swe as Acting President so he could call a meeting of the NDSC and transfer state power to Min Aung Hlaing. The declaration of a state of emergency by the NDSC served as the purported legal basis for all powers exercised by Min Aung Hlaing during his military rule.[9] After the state of emergency expired in 2025 and the State Administration Council was dissolved, Min Aung Hlaing ruled directly through the NDSC until being elected president in 2026.[10]
The opposition National Unity Government designated the NDSC a terrorist organization in November 2025.[11]
Powers
The NDSC's constitutionally enshrined roles include expansive powers:
- Recommend pardonees for the President to grant amnesty[7][12]
- Approve the President's act of severing foreign diplomatic relations[7]
- Coordinate with the President to take military action against aggressors[7]
- Approve the Tatmadaw's ability to conscript citizens[7]
- Nominate a candidate for Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, to be appointed by the president[7]
- Coordinate with the President in declaring a state of emergency[7]
- Exercise legislative, executive and judiciary powers during a state of emergency[7]
- Exercise sovereign power during a state of emergency[7]
Composition
According to the Constitution, NDSC's membership must consist of the following individuals:
- President
- Vice-President
- Vice-President
- Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw
- Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw
- Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
- Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
- Union Minister for Defence
- Union Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Union Minister for Home Affairs
- Union Minister for Border Affairs
Historical compositions
National Defence and Security Council of Thein Sein (2011–2016)
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Thein Sein |
| Vice-President | Tin Aung Myint Oo (2011–2012) |
| Sai Mauk Kham (2012–2016) | |
| Vice-President | Sai Mauk Kham (2011–2012) |
| Nyan Tun (2012–2016) | |
| Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw | Shwe Mann (2011–2016) |
| Win Myint (2016) | |
| Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw | Khin Aung Myint (2011–2016) |
| Mahn Win Khaing Than (2016) | |
| Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services | Min Aung Hlaing |
| Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services | Soe Win |
| Union Minister for Defence | Hla Min (2011–2012) |
| Wai Lwin (2012–2015) | |
| Sein Win (2015–2016) | |
| Union Minister for Foreign Affairs | Wunna Maung Lwin |
| Union Minister for Home Affairs | Ko Ko |
| Union Minister for Border Affairs | Thein Htay (2011–2013) |
| Thet Naing Win (2013–2015) | |
| Kyaw Swe (2015–2016) |
National Defence and Security Council of Htin Kyaw (2016–2018)
National Defence and Security Council of Win Myint (2018–2021)
National Defence and Security Council of Myint Swe (2021–2025)
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Pro Tem President[a] | Myint Swe |
| Min Aung Hlaing (On Duty) (2024-2025) | |
| Vice-President | Myint Swe |
| Vice-President | Henry Van Thio (2021-2024) |
| Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw | T Khun Myat |
| Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw | – |
| Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services | Min Aung Hlaing |
| Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services | Soe Win |
| Union Minister for Defence | Mya Tun Oo (2021-2023) |
| Tin Aung San (2023-2024) | |
| Maung Maung Aye (2024-2025) | |
| Union Minister for Foreign Affairs | Wunna Maung Lwin (2021-2023) |
| Than Swe (2023-2025) | |
| Union Minister for Home Affairs | Soe Htut (2021-2023) |
| Yar Pyae (2023-2025) | |
| Tun Tun Naung (2025) | |
| Union Minister for Border Affairs | Tun Tun Naung (2021-2025) |
| Yar Pyae (2025) |
National Defence and Security Council of Min Aung Hlaing (2025–2026)
Office of the National Defence and Security Council
National Defense and Security Council did not have an office body. However, it was announced on 31 July 2025 via Order No. 2/2025 that an office body has now been formed with two new positions: Chief Executive and Joint Chief Executive, with former SAC secretary Aung Lwin Dwe as Chief Executive and General Ye Win Oo as Joint Chief Executive.[13] On April 10, 2026, following the formation of Min Aung Hlaing’s second cabinet after his election as president, the establishments that had been created by NDSC were abolished.
National Defence and Security Council of Min Aung Hlaing (2026-Present)
On 10 April 2026, NDSC was formed with the following members.[14]
References
- 1 2 Slow, Oliver (2023). Return of the junta: why Myanmar's military must go back to the barracks. London New York Oxford New Delhi Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-350-28965-9.
- ↑ Kipgen, Nehginpao (April 2016). "Militarization of Politics in Myanmar and Thailand". International Studies. 53 (2): 153–172. doi:10.1177/0020881717728156.
- 1 2 Htun Aung Gyaw (21 February 2014). "Myanmar's constitutional crisis reaching boiling point". The Nation. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ Sithu Aung Myint (20 May 2015). "Coalition government: just a fantasy?". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ MacDonald, Adam P (1 May 2013). "The Tatmadaw's new position in Myanmar politics". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ Weiss, Stanley A (4 March 2013). "Myanmar: A nation at war with itself". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar" (PDF). Ministry of Information. September 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ "Myanmar forms national defense, security council". People's Daily. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ Noel, Thibaut (March 2022). "Unconstitutionality of the 2021 Coup in Myanmar" (PDF). International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ↑ Peck, Grant (31 July 2025). "Myanmar ends state of emergency and its military leader switches roles to prepare for the vote". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
Existing administrative bodies formed after the army takeover, including the State Administration Council, have been now dissolved and all government functions have been handed to the National Defense and Security Council, the spokesperson said.
- ↑ "National Unity Government declares 14 military generals as 'terrorists'". Democratic Voice of Burma. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ↑ Soe Than Lynn (24 October 2011). "More amnesties planned, says Thura U Shwe Mann". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ↑ "National Defence and Security Council convenes Meeting 3/2025" (PDF). Global New Light of Myanmar. Vol. XII, no. 107. 1 August 2025. p. 6. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ↑ "Myanmar establishes new National Defence and Security Council". The Star. 11 April 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ Titled "Pro Tem (President)" in the English version of Ordinance 1/2021. Later called "Pro Tem President" by State-owned English media outlets.
