The State Department said it engages with Myanmar groups on US interests while urging an end to violence and the release of political prisoners. (Facebook pic)

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has begun direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, according to US officials and others familiar with the outreach, in a sharp reversal of Washington's efforts to isolate the country’s generals after the 2021 coup.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, Michael Vance, played a leading role in the outreach, which has focused on shutting down scam centers that target Americans but could lead to broader engagement, including on Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits, according to seven current and former officials and others familiar with the policy shift.