Ambassador of the United States to Laos | |
---|---|
Nominator | The President of the United States |
Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
Inaugural holder | Paul L. Guest as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim |
Formation | August 1950 |
Website | U.S. Embassy - Vientiane |
This is a list of United States ambassadors to Laos . The United States established full diplomatic relations with Laos in 1955, following its full independence from France in 1954.[ citation needed ]
On December 29, 1961, during the Laotian Civil War, President John F. Kennedy made the Ambassador to Laos the de facto commander of U.S. military and paramilitary operations within the Kingdom of Laos for the length of the war. [1]
Accounting for American personnel missing in Laos and clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the wars in Indochina were the initial focuses of the post-1975 bilateral relationship. Since that time the relationship has broadened to include cooperation on a range of issues including counter-narcotics, health, child nutrition, environmental sustainability, trade liberalization, and English language training. This expansion in cooperation has accelerated since 2009, with the launch of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), which serves as a platform to address complex, transnational development and policy changes in the Lower Mekong sub-region. The United States and Laos share a commitment to ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for the Mekong sub-region. In July 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Laos, marking the first visit by a Secretary of State since 1955.[ citation needed ]
A large part of U.S. bilateral assistance to Laos is devoted to improving health and child nutrition. The United States also helps improve trade policy in Laos, promotes sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, and works to strengthen the criminal justice system and law enforcement. The United States has provided significant support for clearance of UXO from the war, particularly cluster munitions, as well as for risk education and victims’ assistance.[ citation needed ]
Image | Name | Presentation of credentials | Termination of mission | Comment |
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Paul L. Guest | August 1950 | December 1950 | ad interim | |
Donald R. Heath | December 29, 1950 | November 1, 1954 | Resident at Saigon | |
Charles Yost | November 1, 1954 | April 27, 1956 | ||
J. Graham Parsons | October 12, 1956 | February 8, 1958 | ||
Horace H. Smith | April 9, 1958 | June 21, 1960 | ||
Winthrop G. Brown | July 25, 1960 | June 28, 1962 | ||
Leonard S. Unger | July 25, 1962 | December 1, 1964 | ||
William H. Sullivan | December 23, 1964 | March 18, 1969 | ||
G. McMurtrie Godley | July 24, 1969 | April 23, 1973 | ||
Charles S. Whitehouse | September 20, 1973 | April 12, 1975 | ||
Thomas J. Corcoran [2] | August 1975 | March 1978 | ad interim | |
George B. Roberts, Jr. | March 1978 | September 1979 | ad interim | |
Leo J. Moser | September 1979 | October 1981 | ad interim | |
William W. Thomas, Jr. | November 1981 | November 1983 | ad interim | |
Theresa Anne Tull | November 1983 | August 1986 | ad interim | |
Harriet W. Isom | August 1986 | August 1989 | ad interim | |
Charles B. Salmon, Jr. | August 1989 | July 26, 1993 | ad interim August 1989-August 1992, Ambassador August 6, 1992 – July 26, 1993 | |
Victor L. Tomseth | January 8, 1994 | August 20, 1996 | ||
Wendy Chamberlin | September 5, 1996 | June 14, 1999 | ||
Douglas A. Hartwick | September 18, 2001 | April 21, 2004 | ||
Patricia M. Haslach | September 4, 2004 | March 26, 2007 | ||
Ravic R. Huso | June 22, 2007 | August 22, 2010 | ||
Karen B. Stewart | November 16, 2010 | August 8, 2013 | ||
Daniel A. Clune | September 16, 2013 | September 21, 2016 | ||
Rena Bitter | November 2, 2016 | January 26, 2020 | ||
Peter Haymond | February 7, 2020 | September 1, 2023 | ||
Michelle Y. Outlaw | September 1, 2023 | February 6, 2024 | ad interim | |
Heather Variava | February 6, 2024 | Incumbent |
The Laotian Civil War was waged between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government from 23 May 1959 to 2 December 1975. The Kingdom of Laos was a covert theater during the Vietnam War with both sides receiving heavy external support in a proxy war between the global Cold War superpowers. The fighting also involved the North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese, American and Thai armies, both directly and through irregular proxies. The war is known as the Secret War among the American CIA Special Activities Center, and Hmong and Mien veterans of the conflict.
The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), formerly the Office of Chinese Affairs, is part of the United States Department of State and is charged with advising the Secretary of State and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs on matters of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as dealing with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with countries in the region. It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who reports to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Ivory Coast is one of the most pro-United States nations in Africa and the world, with 85% viewing the U.S. favorably in 2002, and rising to a high of 88% in 2007.
Argentina and the United States have maintained bilateral relations since the United States formally recognized the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, the predecessor to Argentina, on January 27, 1823.
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 brought an end to the Cold War and created an opportunity for establishing bilateral relations between the United States with Armenia and other post-Soviet states as they began a political and economic transformation. The United States recognized the independence of Armenia on 25 December 1991, and opened an embassy in Armenia's capital Yerevan in February 1992.
The diplomatic relationship between the United States of America and Zambia can be characterized as warm and cooperative. Relations are based on their shared experiences as British colonies, both before, after and during the struggle for independence. Several U.S. administrations cooperated closely with Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, in hopes of facilitating solutions to the conflicts in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Angola, and Namibia. The United States works closely with the Zambian Government to defeat the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is ravaging Zambia, to promote economic growth and development, and to effect political reform needed to promote responsive and responsible government. The United States is also supporting the government's efforts to root out corruption. Zambia is a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The U.S. Government provides a variety of technical assistance and other support that is managed by the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Threshold Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Treasury, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps. The majority of U.S. assistance is provided through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Bilateral relations between the United States and Cambodia, while strained throughout the Cold War, have strengthened considerably in modern times. The U.S. supports efforts in Cambodia to combat terrorism, build democratic institutions, promote human rights, foster economic development, eliminate corruption.
Cameroon–United States relations are international relations between Cameroon and the United States.
Guinea-Bissau–United States relations are bilateral relations between Guinea-Bissau and the United States.
The United States and North Macedonia enjoy excellent bilateral relations.
Mauritania – United States relations are bilateral relations between Mauritania and the United States.
Mozambique – United States relations are bilateral relations between Mozambique and the United States.
Niger–United States relations are bilateral relations between Niger and the United States. The two countries cooperate on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, trade and investment, and health and education. On August 4, 2023, Abdourahamane Tchiani's military junta severed diplomatic ties with the US after a successful coup d'état deposing Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum. In 2024, the Niger ended its security cooperation with the United States, stating that the security pact violated the Niger's constitution.
Bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America were formally inaugurated when Nigeria attained its independence from Britain in 1960. In the 21st century, they have entailed an important, if occasionally uneasy, alliance, following a more chequered diplomatic past. Nigeria has traditionally been among the United States's most important partners in Africa, and together the countries' populations account for more than half a billion people.
Rwanda–United States relations are bilateral relations between Rwanda and the United States.
Sri Lanka and the United States established diplomatic relations on 23 October 1948.
Tunisia – United States relations are bilateral relations between Tunisia and the United States.
Uganda – United States relations are bilateral diplomatic, economic, social and political relations between Uganda and the United States.
Laos–Vietnam relations are the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation from history to the present between the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The relationship is considered by the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as well as the State of the two countries as a special relationship with the role of strategic allies but without any alliance commitments.
Douglas Alan Hartwick is a business and NGO consultant, lecturer, and former senior U.S. diplomat and U.S. ambassador to the People's Democratic Republic of Laos (2001–2004).