Thet Swe
Thet Swe | |
|---|---|
သူရသက်ဆွေ | |
.jpg) Vice-Admiral Thura Thet Swe during his visit to India in 2013 | |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy | |
| In office 2012 – August 2015 | |
| President | Thein Sein |
| Preceded by | Nyan Tun |
| Succeeded by | Tin Aung San |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1964–1965 Myanmar |
| Political party | Union Solidarity and Development Party |
| Profession | Naval officer, politician |
| Known for | Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, 2015 general election candidate |
| Awards | Thura title |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Myanmar |
| Branch/service |  Myanmar Navy |
| Years of service | c. 1980s–2015 |
| Rank |  Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | Myanmar Navy |
Thura Thet Swe (Burmese: သူရသက်ဆွေ; pronounced [θùɹà θɛʔ swè]; born Myanmar) is a retired Burmese naval officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy from 2012 to August 2015. He later entered politics as a candidate for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the 2015 general election.[1] His career includes senior military service, naval diplomacy, and political involvement.[2][3]
Military career
[edit]Thet Swe served in the Myanmar Navy and attained the rank of Vice-Admiral. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy in 2012, succeeding Vice-Admiral Nyan Tun.[4] He held this position until August 2015, when he retired and was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Tin Aung San. During his tenure, he oversaw naval operations and participated in expanding Myanmar's regional naval cooperation.[5]
In July 2013, Thet Swe led an official naval delegation to India, visiting the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The delegation toured naval training facilities including the Indian Navy’s missile and gunnery school and the Cochin Shipyard.[6] According to The Times of India, the visit included meetings with senior Indian naval officers and was part of a broader bilateral naval engagement program.[7][8]
Political involvement
[edit]Following his retirement from military service, Thet Swe stood as a candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) seat representing the Coco Islands constituency during the 2015 general election, running under the Union Solidarity and Development Party.[9][10]
The Irrawaddy noted that his candidacy was part of a broader trend involving retired senior military officers contesting parliamentary seats, particularly in remote or strategically important areas.[11] Reports indicated that Thet Swe had access to the constituency via government transportation before the official campaign period began, access that was not available to other candidates.[12]
Titles and honours
[edit]The honorific title "Thura" is awarded by the Myanmar government for distinguished acts of bravery or military service.[13]
Public record
[edit]As of 2025, Thet Swe is estimated to be around 60 years old.[14][15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Information Team of Sate Administration Council | Ministry Of Information". www.moi.gov.mm. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Monitor, Security Force. "Thura Thet Swe". Under Whose Command?. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "India's Rising Regional Military Engagement". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Myanmar Navy seeks arms from India | ARNO". Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "News_Test - Commander-In-Chief The Republic Of The Union..." www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Navy on four-day visit to India". www.spsmai.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Htun, Paw (18 January 2022). "Opinion | Sacking of Myanmar Air Force Chief Fuels Personal Rift Rumors". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Myanmar Navy chief Vice Admiral Thura Thet Swe will be visiting India next week". The Times of India. 26 July 2013. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Pacific, Kanaha Sabapathy for Asia (1 August 2013). "India to assist Myanmar military". ABC News. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Bipindra, N. C. (30 July 2013). "Myanmar Navy seeks arms from India". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Htun, Paw (18 January 2022). "Opinion | Sacking of Myanmar Air Force Chief Fuels Personal Rift Rumors". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "India Boosts Defence Ties with Myanmar". Myanmar Business Today. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Service, Express News (31 July 2013). "Myanmar Navy Chief in Kochi". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Upsurge in Indo-Myanmar Naval Cooperation". www.spsnavalforces.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "L_2008116EN.01005701.xml". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2025.