The democracy movement in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has for decades found powerful champions in the Republican Party.

President George W. Bush introduced, then expanded, wide-ranging sanctions on the repressive military that has governed Myanmar on and off since independence in 1948. Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) repeatedly led legislation that funneled funding to pro-democracy groups. The late Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) was among the first world leaders to meet Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011 after she was released from house arrest.