Laosportal |
The foreign relations of Laos , internationally designated by its official name as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, after the takeover by the Pathet Lao in December 1975, were characterized by a hostile posture toward the West, with the government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic aligning itself with the Soviet bloc, maintaining close ties with the Soviet Union and depending heavily on the Soviets for most of its foreign assistance. Laos also maintained a "special relationship" with Vietnam and formalized a 1977 treaty of friendship and cooperation that created tensions with China.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and with Vietnam's decreased ability to provide assistance, Laos has sought to improve relations with its regional neighbors and has emerged from international isolation through improved and expanded relations with other nations, such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, Australia, France, Japan, and Sweden. Trade relations with the United States were normalized in 2004. Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997 and applied to join the World Trade Organization in 1998. In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit.
Laos is a member of the following international organizations: Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), ASEAN, ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) Asian Development Bank, Colombo Plan, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Group of 77, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), and Interpol.
Laos is also a member of the International Olympic Commission (IOC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mekong Group, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Pacific Alliance (as observer), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations, United Nations Convention on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Federation of Trade Unions, World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization, World Trade Organization (observer).
List of countries which Laos maintains diplomatic relations with:
Country | Date [1] | |
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1 | Thailand | 19 December 1950 |
2 | France | 31 January 1951 |
3 | Australia | 16 January 1952 |
4 | Philippines | 14 January 1955 |
5 | Japan | 5 March 1955 |
6 | Myanmar | 12 July 1955 |
7 | United States | 10 August 1955 |
8 | United Kingdom | 5 September 1955 |
9 | India | 2 February 1956 |
10 | Cambodia | 15 June 1956 |
11 | Denmark | 1 November 1956 |
12 | Indonesia | 30 August 1957 |
13 | Switzerland | 3 September 1957 |
14 | Germany | 31 January 1958 |
15 | Turkey | 20 June 1958 |
16 | Russia | 7 October 1960 |
17 | China | 25 April 1961 |
18 | Czech Republic | 5 September 1962 |
19 | Vietnam | 5 September 1962 |
20 | Poland | 8 September 1962 |
21 | Hungary | 12 September 1962 |
22 | Mongolia | 12 September 1962 |
23 | Bulgaria | 14 October 1962 |
24 | Romania | 25 November 1962 |
25 | Serbia | 25 November 1962 |
26 | Lebanon | 15 July 1963 |
27 | Spain | 20 March 1964 |
28 | Sweden | 10 October 1964 |
29 | New Zealand | 15 July 1965 |
30 | Pakistan | 15 July 1965 |
31 | Sri Lanka | 20 July 1965 |
32 | Italy | 7 December 1965 |
33 | Malaysia | 1 July 1966 |
34 | Iran | 1967 |
35 | Austria | 1 September 1967 |
36 | Belgium | 12 December 1967 |
37 | Nepal | 20 May 1970 |
38 | Algeria | 15 May 1973 |
39 | Canada | 15 June 1974 |
40 | North Korea | 24 June 1974 |
41 | Cuba | 4 November 1974 |
42 | Singapore | 2 December 1974 |
43 | Finland | 21 January 1975 |
44 | Albania | 18 June 1975 |
45 | Argentina | 24 July 1975 |
46 | Iraq [2] | 2 October 1975 |
47 | Netherlands | 17 November 1975 |
48 | Libya | 26 July 1976 |
49 | Yemen | 26 July 1976 |
50 | Egypt | November 1976 |
51 | Mexico | 29 November 1976 |
52 | Benin | 2 February 1977 |
53 | Mali | 2 February 1977 |
54 | Tanzania | 15 May 1978 |
55 | Madagascar | 27 February 1980 |
56 | Somalia | 27 February 1980 |
57 | Grenada | 4 March 1980 |
58 | Mozambique | 16 April 1980 |
59 | Nicaragua | 30 May 1980 |
60 | Angola | 11 July 1980 |
61 | Guinea | 15 October 1981 |
62 | Afghanistan | 11 March 1983 |
63 | Zimbabwe | 14 August 1986 |
64 | Vanuatu | 18 February 1987 |
– | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 3 August 1987 |
65 | Bangladesh | 1988 |
66 | Colombia | 30 September 1988 |
67 | Peru | 27 April 1989 |
– | State of Palestine | 15 May 1989 |
68 | Greece | 15 June 1989 |
69 | Tunisia | 30 November 1989 |
70 | Papua New Guinea | 6 April 1990 |
71 | Saudi Arabia | 29 May 1990 |
72 | Norway | 12 November 1991 |
73 | Chile | 6 December 1991 |
74 | Uzbekistan | 10 September 1992 |
75 | Ukraine | 17 September 1992 |
76 | Slovakia [3] | 1 January 1993 |
77 | Brunei | 27 July 1993 |
78 | Israel | 6 December 1993 |
79 | Turkmenistan | 4 February 1994 |
80 | Belarus | 7 February 1994 |
81 | Lithuania | 1 September 1994 |
82 | South Africa | 27 September 1994 |
83 | Estonia | 29 March 1995 |
84 | Latvia | 27 April 1995 |
85 | Azerbaijan | 22 May 1995 |
86 | Portugal | 31 May 1995 |
87 | Brazil | 12 June 1995 |
88 | Kyrgyzstan | 13 July 1995 |
89 | South Korea | 25 October 1995 |
90 | Croatia | 4 March 1996 |
91 | North Macedonia | 6 March 1996 |
92 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7 March 1996 |
93 | Slovenia | 28 March 1996 |
94 | United Arab Emirates | 15 October 1996 |
95 | Zambia | 9 November 1996 |
96 | Morocco | 30 January 1997 |
97 | Moldova | 25 May 1997 |
98 | Kazakhstan | 19 September 1997 |
99 | Tajikistan | 23 September 1997 |
100 | Luxembourg | 25 September 1997 |
101 | Armenia | 21 April 1998 |
102 | Ireland | 7 August 1998 |
103 | Georgia | 6 November 1998 |
104 | Nigeria | 10 June 1999 |
105 | Jamaica | 27 August 1999 |
106 | Cyprus | 29 June 2000 |
107 | Mauritius | 23 May 2002 |
108 | East Timor | 29 July 2002 |
109 | Bahrain | 15 December 2002 |
110 | Liechtenstein | 8 January 2004 |
111 | Iceland [4] | 2 September 2004 |
112 | Syria | 22 December 2004 |
113 | Qatar | 3 February 2005 |
114 | Oman | 9 March 2005 |
115 | Paraguay | 28 September 2005 |
116 | Venezuela | 5 October 2005 |
117 | Sudan | 14 October 2005 |
118 | Ethiopia | 9 December 2005 |
119 | Seychelles | 22 June 2006 |
120 | Niger | 8 December 2006 |
121 | Andorra | 8 June 2007 |
122 | Burkina Faso | 1 August 2007 |
123 | Dominican Republic | 27 September 2007 |
124 | Guatemala | 20 February 2008 |
125 | Kuwait | 14 July 2008 |
126 | Ivory Coast | 22 July 2008 |
127 | Kenya | 11 December 2008 |
128 | Rwanda | 31 August 2009 |
129 | Montenegro | 3 February 2010 |
130 | Fiji | 27 August 2010 |
131 | Malta | 13 January 2011 |
132 | Ecuador | 12 September 2011 |
133 | Maldives | 10 February 2012 |
134 | Mauritania | 19 September 2013 |
135 | Costa Rica | 28 September 2015 |
136 | Monaco | 27 November 2015 |
137 | Liberia | 12 August 2016 |
138 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 23 September 2017 |
139 | San Marino | 17 December 2018 |
140 | Republic of the Congo | 29 August 2019 |
141 | Ghana | 27 September 2019 |
142 | Dominica | 29 July 2021 |
143 | Panama | 9 September 2021 |
144 | Uganda | 27 September 2021 |
145 | Burundi | 4 February 2022 |
146 | Botswana | 11 December 2023 |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Australia | ||
Brunei |
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Cambodia |
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China | Relations with the People's Republic of China have improved over the years. Although the two were allies during the Vietnam War, the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979 led to a sharp deterioration in Sino-Lao relations. These relations began to improve in the late 1980s. In 1989 Sino-Lao relations were normalized. In 2017 China invested in Laos under its Belt and Road Initiative. [5] | |
Cuba |
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France | Following its occupation of Vietnam, France absorbed Laos into French Indochina via treaties with Siam in 1893 and 1904. During World War II, the Japanese occupied French Indochina. When Japan surrendered, Lao nationalists declared Laos independent, but by early 1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. During the First Indochina War, the Indochinese Communist Party formed the Pathet Lao resistance organization committed to Lao independence. Laos gained full independence following the French defeat by the Vietnamese communists and the subsequent Geneva peace conference in 1954.
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Germany |
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India |
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Indonesia | 1957 | Since established diplomatic relations on 1957, both nations enjoys cordial relations. Indonesia supported and welcomed Laos membership to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997. Laos and Indonesia agreed to enhance relations to focus on exploring the potential of both nations to cooperate on trade and investment. The two nations expressed a desire to reach further agreements relating to security, tourism, sport, air transport and education. [6] Indonesia through bilateral cooperation assist Laos on capacity building and development in various sectors, through scholarships, and trainings for Laos students. [7]
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Israel | ||
Japan |
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Malaysia | During the collapse of the Communist Bloc, the Soviet Union could no longer afford aid for the development of Laos. [8] This made Laos seek aid from other countries to help develop their country and has led the country to adopt a neutral foreign policy. [8] When this policy of neutrality was adopted, relations with Malaysia were established. [8]
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Mexico | 1976 | |
Myanmar |
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Pakistan |
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Philippines | Formal relations between Laos and the Philippines were officially established on 14 January 1955. Relations between the two countries were said to have started during the early period of the Vietnam War. Operation Brotherhood, a joint international venture by Jaycees International, sent 50 volunteer Filipino doctors, agriculturists, and nutritionists to Laos and Vietnam from 1957 to 1964. Laos has an embassy in Manila while the Philippines has an embassy in Vientiane. Lao Prime Ministers Bounnhang Vorachith, Bouasone Bouphavanh and Thongsing Thammavong made their state visit to the Philippines in 2002, June 2007 and May 2012 respectively. Philippine Presidents Fidel V. Ramos visited Laos in October 1997. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Laos in November 2004 for the ASEAN summit and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III visited Laos in November 2012 for the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit. There are about 730 Filipinos in Laos as of 2013, mostly working as professionals as teachers, nurses, engineers, hotel employees and consultants. Filipinos are often offered lower fares on riding tuktuks compared to other foreigners. Filipinos are one of the biggest contributors to Laos' English programs due to the English fluency possessed by most Filipinos.
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Russia |
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Serbia | 1962 | Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1962. [14]
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South Korea |
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Spain |
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Thailand | Thai-Lao relations were strained somewhat in 2006 ahead of the release of the sports comedy Lucky Loser , which Lao diplomats warned might offend Lao people and spark disturbances similar to the 2003 Phnom Penh riots. The film's release was cancelled. Thailand is Laos' principal means of access to the sea and its primary trading partner. Despite strong economic and cultural ties with Thailand, parts of the border shared by the two countries are indefinite. Within a year of serious border clashes in 1987, Lao and Thai leaders signed a communiqué, signaling their intention to improve relations. Since then, they have made slow but steady progress, notably the construction and opening of the Friendship Bridge between the two countries.
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Turkey | 1958 [17] | See Laos–Turkey relations |
United Kingdom | 1955 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Laos established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 5 September 1955. [19]
Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. |
United States | Laos-United States relations officially began when the United States opened a legation in Laos in 1950, when Laos was a semi-autonomous state within French Indochina. These relations were maintained after Laotian independence in 1954. Between 1964-1973, the United States began bombing Laos in an effort to remove the Pathet Lao from power, despite the fact Laos had been neutral during the Vietnam War. This bombing led to Laos becoming the most bombed country on earth; [21] hence why there have been large efforts to remove unexploded mines and bombs from the country. The U.S. government provided more than $13.4 million in foreign assistance to Laos in FY 2006, in areas including unexploded ordnance clearance and removal, health and avian influenza, education, economic development, and governance. In December 2004, George W. Bush signed into law a bill extending normal trade relations to Laos. In February 2005, a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between the two countries entered into force. There has been a consequent rise in Lao exports to the United States, although the volume of trade remains small in absolute terms. Bilateral trade reached $15.7 million in 2006, compared with $8.9 million in 2003. The Lao Government is working to implement the provisions of the BTA and on 2 February 2013 joined the World Trade Organization.
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Vietnam | Although Vietnam's historical record of leadership over the Pathet Lao during the civil war and its military power and proximity will not cease to exist, Laos struck out ahead of Vietnam with its New Economic Mechanism to introduce market mechanisms into its economy. In so doing, Laos has opened the door to rapprochement with Thailand and China at some expense to its special dependence on Vietnam. [22] Laos might have reached the same point of normalization in following Vietnam's economic and diplomatic change, but by moving ahead resolutely and responding to Thai and Chinese gestures, Laos has broadened its range of donors, trading partners, and investors independent of Vietnam's attempts to accomplish the same goal. Thus, Vietnam remains in the shadows as a mentor and emergency ally, and the tutelage of Laos has shifted dramatically to development banks and international entrepreneurs. [22]
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Brunei maintains diplomatic relations with 170 out of 193 countries, joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, one week after resuming full independence, and gives its ASEAN membership the highest priority in its foreign relations. Brunei joined the United Nations in September 1984. It is also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Commonwealth of Nations. Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000. In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit.
The Cambodian government has diplomatic relations with most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as all of its Asian neighbors, including China, India, Vietnam, Laos, South Korea, and Thailand. The government is a member of most major international organizations, including the United Nations and its specialized agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The government is an Asian Development Bank (ADB) member, a member of ASEAN, and of the WTO. In 2005 Cambodia attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. The government is also a member of the Pacific Alliance and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The foreign relations of Afghanistan are in a transitional phase since the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the collapse of the internationally-recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. No country has recognised the new regime, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Although some countries have engaged in informal diplomatic contact with the Islamic Emirate, formal relations remain limited to representatives of the Islamic Republic.
India, officially the Republic of India, has full diplomatic relations with 201 states, including Palestine, the Holy See, and Niue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the government agency responsible for the conduct of foreign relations of India. With the world's third largest military expenditure, second largest armed force, fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates and third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, India is a prominent regional power and a rising superpower.
Since independence, Indonesian foreign relations have adhered to a "free and active" foreign policy, seeking to play a role in regional affairs commensurate with its size and location but avoiding involvement in conflicts among major powers. During the presidency of Sukarno, Indonesia's foreign relations were marked by engagement with other newly independent nations in Asia and Africa, as exemplified by the Bandung Conference, the subsequent foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and a confrontational attitude towards Western powers, justified by a belief in the CONEFO and opposition to what Sukarno termed as NEKOLIM.
The foreign relations of Japan are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent country through the partition of India in August 1947 and was admitted as a United Nations member state in September 1947. It is currently the second-largest country within the Muslim world in terms of population, and is also the only Muslim-majority country in possession of nuclear weapons. De facto, the country shares direct land borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.
The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
As of June 2024, Vietnam maintains diplomatic relationships with 189 UN member states, State of Palestine and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In 2011 the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, released an official statement about Vietnam's foreign policy and a section of the statement stated: "Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, actively taking part in international and regional cooperation processes. Deepen, stabilize and sustain established international relations. Develop relations with countries and territories in the world, as well as international organizations, while showing: respect for each other's independence; sovereignty and territorial integrity; non-interference in each other's international affairs; non-use or threat of force; settlement of disagreements and disputes by means of peaceful negotiations; mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit."
The foreign relations of Bangladesh are Bangladesh's relationships with foreign countries. The Government of Bangladesh's policies pursue a moderate foreign policy that heavily relies on multilateral diplomacy, especially at the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has stressed its principle of "Friendship towards all, malice towards none" in dictating its diplomacy. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Bangladesh has tended to not take sides with major powers. Since the end of the Cold War, Bangladesh has pursued better relations with its neighbours and other nearby states.
Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and nations. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in global affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral and international solutions. Canada is known for its strong commitment to international peace and security, as well as being a mediator in conflicts, and for providing aid to developing countries. The "golden age of Canadian diplomacy" refers to a period in Canadian history, typically considered to be the mid-20th century, when Canada experienced a high level of success in its foreign relations and diplomatic efforts. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is tasked with gathering and analyzing intelligence to prevent threats such as terrorism, espionage, and foreign interference, while the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is focused on cyber security and protecting Canada's digital infrastructure.
Laotian–Chinese relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Lao People's Democratic Republic and the People's Republic of China.
Laos–Russia relations are the current and historical relations between Laos and the Russian Federation. On 31 December 1991, Laos recognised the Russian Federation as the successor state to the Soviet Union, after the latter's dissolution. Laos has an embassy in Moscow, while Russia has an embassy in Vientiane.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government ministry responsible for representing Laos to the international community. The ministry oversees the foreign relations of Laos, maintains diplomatic missions in other countries, and provides visa services.
Indonesia and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1957. Indonesia has an embassy in Vientiane, while Laos have an embassy in Jakarta. Indonesia supported and welcomed Laos membership to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 23 July 1997. Laos and Indonesia agreed to enhance relations to focus on exploring the potential of both nations to cooperate on trade and investment. The two nations expressed a desire to reach further agreements relating to security, tourism, sport, air transport and education. The two sides will also work together in cooperation with other ASEAN nations to ensure the ASEAN Community is established in 2015.