Such developments "should come as no surprise" given decades of US support for opposition groups in Myanmar, a veteran geopolitical analyst and a former US Marine, Brian Berletic.
Berletic pointed to organizations such as the Free Burma Rangers, a group led by former US Special Forces operative David Eubank, as examples of American-led initiatives operating in Myanmar.
The organization is reportedly made up of Americans and Europeans providing military training to militants and sometimes carrying weapons during patrols in conflict zones, he said.
"Eubanks regularly reports to the US government through the US Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and regularly crosses the Thai-Myanmar border to bring in additional support," Berletic stated.
He also highlighted the presence of Western fighters, including Ukrainians, as part of a broader pattern of international involvement in the conflict. According to Berletic, the use of drones by opposition forces against Myanmar’s central government could indicate "additional capabilities being made available" through long-standing US-backed channels.
The analyst urged neighboring countries, including India, Thailand, and China, to take action to prevent their territories from being used as staging grounds for operations that could destabilize Myanmar and the wider region.
Unchecked foreign involvement risks prolonging fighting and increasing regional tensions, the analyst warned.