The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, a 1,360-kilometer project aimed at enhancing economic integration between South and Southeast Asia, continues to face significant delays due to ongoing conflict within Myanmar.

Initiated in 2002, the highway is designed to connect Moreh in India's Manipur state to Mae Sot in Thailand, passing through several regions in Myanmar.

As of 2023, approximately 70% of the project has been completed.

However, the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 has led to increased instability, particularly in areas critical to the highway's construction.

This unrest has severely impacted infrastructure projects, including the Trilateral Highway, as well as other initiatives like the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.

The instability has also resulted in over 95,000 displaced individuals from Myanmar seeking refuge in India's northeastern states, further complicating bilateral relations and project timelines.

In response to these challenges, regional stakeholders have initiated diplomatic efforts to address the situation.

In September 2024, Thailand proposed collaborating with various factions within Myanmar to repair and maintain sections of the highway affected by the conflict.

Additionally, India extended an unprecedented invitation to Myanmar's political and military opponents for a seminar in New Delhi, signaling a shift towards engaging with non-state actors to stabilize the region.

Despite these efforts, the completion of the Trilateral Highway remains uncertain, with previous deadlines, such as the one set for 2015, having been missed.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar continues to pose substantial obstacles to the realization of this key infrastructure project, which holds significant potential for boosting trade, tourism, and regional integration across the involved nations.