National Defence and Security Council (Myanmar)

The National Defence and Security Council (Burmese: အမျိုးသား ကာကွယ်ရေးနှင့် လုံခြုံရေး ကောင်စီ, Burmese pronunciation: [əmjóðákàkwɛ̀jén̥ḭɴlòʊɴdʑòʊɴjékàʊɴsì]; abbreviated NDSC) is an eleven-member national security council responsible for security and defence affairs in Myanmar. 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. The NDSC's existence is enshrined in Chapter V of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, and it was formed on 31 March 2011.

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. 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 NDSC has since continued to serve as the purported basis of legitimacy for Min Aung Hlaing's military dictatorship. 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.

The opposition National Unity Government designated the NDSC a terrorist organization in November 2025.

Powers

The NDSC's constitutionally enshrined roles include expansive powers:

• Recommend pardonees for the President to grant amnesty
• Approve the President's act of severing foreign diplomatic relations
• Coordinate with the President to take military action against aggressors
• Approve the Tatmadaw's ability to conscript citizens
• Nominate a candidate for Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, to be appointed by the president
• Coordinate with the President in declaring a state of emergency
• Exercise legislative, executive and judiciary powers during a state of emergency
• Exercise sovereign power during a state of emergency

Composition

According to the Constitution, NDSC's membership must consist of the following individuals:

• President
• First Vice-President
• Second 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
• Minister of Defence
• Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Minister of Home Affairs
• Minister of Border Affairs

Historical composition

National Defence and Security Council of Thein Sein (2011–2016)

As of 9 July 2013, NDSC was composed of the following members:

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 (2021–2024)

National Defence and Security Council of Min Aung Hlaing (2024–2026)

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. 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 (2026 - Present)

On 10 April 2026, NDSC was formed with the following members.

See also

• Government of Burma