[9][better source needed] During the period of civilian rule from 2011 to 2021, Min Aung Hlaing worked to ensure the military's continued role in politics and forestalled the peace process with ethnic armed groups.

[22][23] In response to his human rights abuses and corruption, Min Aung Hlaing and his government have been subjected to an extensive series of international sanctions, returning Myanmar to its former status as a pariah state.

It is said that Min Aung Hlaing’s lack of social engagement allowed him to concentrate on his studies and rise through the ranks, gradually gaining a reputation for his serious and committed attitude toward military life.

[33][34] After completing his training and being commissioned as a lieutenant, he started his service in Myanmar's military, where his ability to focus on his responsibilities and his calm demeanor gradually contributed to his career progression.

His time in the Defence Services Academy, though not marked by personal connections, provided him with a solid foundation in military discipline and strategy, which would shape his leadership style in the years that followed.

In the years that followed, Min Aung Hlaing was deeply involved in key military decisions that focused primarily on protecting and advancing the interests of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar's armed forces).

[45][46][47] Min Aung Hlaing’s leadership also reinforced his reputation as a staunch defender of national security and stability, as he oversaw military operations in conflict-ridden regions, especially in areas with significant insurgency activity.

Nonetheless, Min Aung Hlaing remained unwavering in his belief that Myanmar's future stability could only be secured through strong military rule, with minimal involvement from civilian political leaders.

As Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing was significant to shaping military responses to these calls, ensuring that the Tatmadaw would remain a dominant force in Myanmar's governance.

His strategic thinking, coupled with his control over the country’s armed forces, set the stage for his eventual role in the broader political changes that would take place in Myanmar in the coming years.

As Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing oversaw efforts to modernize the Tatmadaw, emphasizing military training, equipment upgrades, and expanding its role in national governance.

Former President of Myanmar Thein Sein was also assigned to this battalion, and former Director of Defence Service Intelligence General Khin Nyunt served as a company commander in the same unit.

To ward off harm from enemy shells and bullets, Min Aung Hlaing carried a Buddha statue in his bag of topographic maps worn across his chest.

Although he promoted bravery in his speeches, Min Aung Hlaing showed limited combat capabilities as a junior officer, only participating in two major battles and playing insignificant roles in both.

As the years passed, Min Aung Hlaing began to forge alliances with influential figures, and his ties to the upper echelons of the Tatmadaw started to take root.

The challenges he faced as a junior officer, combined with his dedication to military service and his evolving understanding of the Tatmadaw's role in Myanmar's governance, provided the groundwork for his future rise to the top.

[89][90] Min Aung Hlaing's appointment coincided with the USDP's rise to power, during which he oversaw a series of military reforms, and supported efforts by the USDP-led government to strike peace deals with ethnic armed organisations.

[96] Throughout 2019, Min Aung Hlaing made several public appearances dubbed a "charm offensive," at several religious sites and charity functions,[97] raising speculation about his political ambitions.

On 17 March 2019, Kyaw Zaw Oo, an Arakanese MP, published a bilingual open letter to Min Aung Hlaing about the many human rights violations of the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State that harmed the lives and property of civilians and damaged buildings of cultural heritage.

[105] In November 2020, Min Aung Hlaing made a series of public comments questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming 2020 election, in potential violation of the Civil Services Personnel Law.

On 27 January 2021, Min Aung Hlaing publicly remarked that he would not rule out a coup d'état and abolition of the constitution, if allegations of voter fraud during last year's election were not adequately addressed.

[130][131] In March 2023, Min Aung Hlaing made a rare public appearance at the Armed Forces Day parade stating that his government would continue to fight back against resistance groups in the country and their "acts of terror".

[132] Starting in January 2024, multiple pro-military figures condemned Min Aung Hlaing for incompetence and excessive self-interest after the Tatmadaw suffered an unprecedented string of defeats during Operation 1027.

[133] In February 2024, to address the Tatmadaw's personnel issues, Min Aung Hlaing activated Myanmar's 1959 conscription law for the first time, with plans to draft 60,000 young men and women.

[135] In March 2024, Min Aung Hlaing claimed at the Armed Forces Day parade young people are being tricked into supporting the resistance against the military, and accused "some powerful nations" of trying to interfere with Myanmar’s internal affairs.

[141] On 31 January 2025, Myanmar’s ruling military extended the state of emergency for another six months, with the decision approved unanimously by the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) under Section 425 of the 2008 Constitution.

[146][147][148][149] Min Aung Hlaing's rise to power in February 2021 marked the beginning of a harsh crackdown on dissent in Myanmar, exemplified by the arrest of prominent pro-democracy activist Nay Soe Maung on 23 October 2024, in Pyigyitagun Township, Mandalay.

[160] In 2013, his son Aung Pyae Sone won a no-bid government permit well below market rates, for a 30-year lease on land at the Yangon People's Square and Park for a high-end restaurant and art gallery, following his father's promotion to Commander-in-Chief.

[168] Facebook banned Min Aung Hlaing from its platform along with 19 other top Burmese officials and organisations to prevent further heated ethnic and religious tensions in Myanmar.

[183][184] HM Treasury and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on him since 25 February 2021, for his responsibility for serious human rights violations in Myanmar.