Relationship dossier
Laos
Russia
Relationship assessment
Longstanding Laos–Russia partnership with cooperation in defense, education, and diplomacy
Laos toward Russia
+45Laos has maintained a strategic partnership and treaty-based cooperation with Russia. In 2022, the Lao government abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rather than supporting the resolution.
Russia toward Laos
+45Russia has maintained treaty-based relations and a strategic partnership with Laos, with cooperation that has included defense and education. The extent of current practical cooperation is unclear.
Overall relationship
+45The relationship is underpinned by a 1994 friendship and cooperation treaty and a strategic partnership established in 2011. Defense and educational links have complemented diplomatic engagement. Laos’s 2022 abstention on a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reflects a degree of diplomatic alignment, though the scale and current implementation of bilateral cooperation are uncertain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Laos and Russia maintain longstanding cooperation, including a 1994 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and a strategic partnership established in 2011. Their relationship has included defense and educational ties, and Laos abstained on a 2022 UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The breadth and implementation of current bilateral cooperation are less clear.
Key developments
Laos and Russia signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
Laos and Russia established a strategic partnership.
Laos abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of current defense, education, and economic cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of practical follow-through under the strategic partnership is uncertain.