A comrade in arms: how Russia and Laos help each other in the military sphere

Russia and Laos are trying to take relations to a new level. There are prerequisites for this — the countries share historical ties and a common approach to most international issues, including the Ukrainian crisis. The trip of a representative Russian delegation headed by Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu should give an additional impetus to bilateral contacts. Now the main focus is the military sphere. While Moscow is helping to clear the country's territory and maintain Laos' weapons in proper shape, its fighters are being treated in local institutions. Russian Ambassador to Vientiane Sergey Hardy told Izvestia that the Lao People's Democratic Republic (DPRK) intends to continue receiving Russian military personnel. However, there are prospects for cooperation in other areas.

Shoigu flew from Vietnam to Laos

Sergei Shoigu arrived in Laos on December 10 from Vietnam, another Southeast Asian country where the Communist Party is in power. There are common features between the neighboring countries, but they are still two different worlds, although it is possible to fly from Hanoi to Vientiane in just an hour. There is at least less fuss in the capital of the DPRK due to the fact that about 1 million people live here, and more than 8 million in neighboring Hanoi.

At the airport, the Secretary of the Security Council was met by a guard of honor, a girl with a magnificent bouquet of flowers, Deputy Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Russian Ambassador Sergey Hardy, who headed the diplomatic mission in October this year.

The main negotiations started on December 11. At the same time, here, as in Vietnam, the program began with cultural and historical topics. Sergei Shoigu laid a wreath at the monument to Soviet pilots who died in Laos while providing assistance during the years of American aggression from 1960 to 1973. The monument was opened relatively recently — in December 2022.

Throughout the visit, it was felt that the Russian side was treated with special respect in Vientiane. Government representatives, including Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Central Committee of the Party, Tiansam Tiannyalat, as well as Prime Minister Songsai Siphandon, noted not only the contribution of the Soviet Union, but also the current Russian contribution to the development of the state. Many military personnel and officials have been trained in Russia, including President Thonglong Sisulit, with whom Sergei Shoigu will meet on December 12. He will present him with the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

Currently, the main area of cooperation between the two countries is military—technical, since Laos has historically exploited Soviet weapons. At the same time, the Russian-Lao Friendship Plant for the repair of military engineering equipment operates in the capital, which was visited by Sergei Shoigu. Here, together, experts, in particular, give a second wind to rusty cranes with pontoons.

Russia is currently not considered the main supplier of weapons, China is the leader. According to an informed interlocutor of Izvestia, "Laos is about 85% tied to China in terms of investments." However, this fact does not block the way for increasing its cooperation with Russia, given the close relations between Moscow and Beijing.

The Russian Federation is one of the few countries that is ready to work with Laos on preferential terms with deferred payments, provide technical support and train staff, Alexander Korolev, Deputy Director of the Central Research Institute of Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia. The countries have recently agreed to cooperate in the field of unmanned vehicles.

Together they are also working on mine clearance after the Indochina war. The eighth stage of the humanitarian mission started in November, Shoigu said at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos Vilai Lakhamphong.

"During the previous one, Russian sappers found and neutralized over 330 explosive objects on 18 hectares,— the Secretary of the Security Council clarified.

This is one of the country's most serious problems, which is still far from being fully resolved, Ekaterina Koldunova, director of the MGIMO ASEAN Center, tells Izvestia.

Treatment of SVO fighters

For Russia, cooperation with Laos is not just a manifestation of altruism in foreign policy. The turn to the East after the events of 2022 is inevitably accompanied by a strengthening of cooperation with long-standing partners. In addition, the rapprochement with Laos and other countries in the region as a whole strengthens Russia's position in ASEAN, where the country has the status of a partner. And the Russian Federation, as Sergei Shoigu stated earlier, stands for strengthening the Asean-centric system to maintain stability throughout Eurasia. In addition, we must not forget about cooperation through the United Nations. The convergence of positions gives Moscow another reliable partner who does not support resolutions aimed against its interests.

"You demonstrate a balanced, rational position on the Ukrainian crisis, understanding the root causes of the special military operation," Shoigu told Vilai Lakhamphong.

According to the Secretary of the Security Council, Moscow and Vientiane have common positions on almost all international issues. Moreover, medical and sanatorium institutions in Laos accept Russian military personnel for rehabilitation free of charge, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council added.

— This is not the first group of SVO fighters who are here for rehabilitation. These are small groups. The Lao side says it is ready to receive our fighters further. We are extremely grateful to them for this, for such a kind and humane attitude, which is based on our friendly ties," Russian Ambassador to the country Sergey Hardy told Izvestia.

Russia's military aid policy is an important factor for Laos, which is often described as the poorest country in Southeast Asia. The country's GDP does not reach $14 billion, and Laos is not able to buy high-tech military goods from Russia, said Kirill Kotkov, head of the Center for the Study of the Far East in St. Petersburg.

Indeed, there is no special luxury in the capital: you will not see boutiques here, as in Hanoi. On the other hand, local bazaars selling fakes of famous brands have a special flavor. Despite the difficult socio-economic situation, the absence of homeless people is striking.

Since the 1990s, Laos has been undergoing market reforms modeled on Chinese and Vietnamese ones, Ekaterina Koldunova recalls. Here, as in Vietnam, there is no communism in its purest form. It is a hybrid economic system with the leadership of the party.

At the same time, the only one who asked for the support of others these days was an EU citizen. A man over 40 years old, who, according to him, aspires to become a true Buddhist, could not get to Thailand — the authorities would not let him there. Allegedly due to lack of money. And now he's trying to raise money with a sign that says "Help me." However, when asked what he was doing on the other side of the river (the Mekong divides Laos and Thailand), he refused to answer Izvestia. But more importantly, locals, walking along the embankment, easily say goodbye to bills for the sake of saving a European.

— The locals are Buddhists. Giving money to someone in need will help to clean up karma, — says the interlocutor of Izvestia, who lives in the country.

Golden Buddhist pagodas are found all over the city. However, the place where local life is bustling is more of a walking area along the Mekong. Boys here play soccer on an improvised playground, families with children ride rides in an amusement park, young couples enjoy a free evening, and women selling at the market shout loudly at their children, who, apparently, are not doing their homework.

Against this background, a lot of pickups are speeding along the embankment. And many visitors have a question about how such a number of not very cheap cars is combined with the rather low incomes of the local population.

— There was a special program in the country. Farmers were offered to give part of the harvest to the authorities for subsequent sale. They were given cars instead of money," the source explained to Izvestia.

New areas of cooperation

Meanwhile, not all Russian-Lao cooperation is focused on military cooperation. The Russian Federation, for example, has been involved in the renovation of the Russian-Lao friendship hospital "Mittaphab" since January of this year. About $13 million has been allocated for this. In addition, a Russian-Lao school should appear in the country — this project can indirectly contribute to strengthening security in the republic.

Systematically improving the quality of education and expanding opportunities for children in any country is a definite protection against drug cartels or groups that engage in prostitution. They are the ones who often take advantage of the low incomes of the population and lack of prospects and involve minors in illegal activities. Both of these problems are sore points for the entire southeastern region, and Laos, unfortunately, is no exception. An investigation by Japanese journalists published this fall revealed the scale of the tragedy related to the exploitation of children. This fact to a certain extent overshadows your stay in the country, as some foreigners and groups of tourists automatically begin to arouse suspicion. At the same time, the city is full of massage parlors, which may be connected with the criminal world.

In May, a delegation from the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation visited Laos. The issues of countering transnational organized crime are among the priority areas of cooperation.

There is also an economic component to the bilateral relationship. The trade turnover between the two countries is growing. Last year, it increased by 65%, and positive dynamics will be observed in 2025. Nevertheless, the figures are still quite low: about $100 million. Therefore, the countries do not plan to stop there. According to Sergei Shoigu, "there is too much scope for its expansion." In particular, the LDPR needs fertilizers, which the Russian Federation has.

Of course, there are objective reasons that can slow down the growth of trade turnover. Laos is a small country with a small market. In addition, there are logistical difficulties.It is the only country in the region that has no access to the sea.

— This makes transportation and logistics more difficult and expensive. Another reason is the low diversification of the commodity structure. Russian exports to Laos are mainly timber, pulp and paper products, and some chemical products. And imports are textiles, agricultural raw materials and food," explained Alexander Korolev.

Laos has little to offer in terms of natural resources: tin, precious stones, and gold, Kirill Kotkov added.

Vietnam provided Laos with a port on its territory in order to improve the situation of the neighboring country. Following talks with his Laotian counterpart this year, the Russian president announced Moscow's plans to expand sea transportation to the republic through Vietnam and rail transportation through China.

The creation of a free trade zone between Laos and the EAEU would help increase trade turnover, Korolev stressed. The prospect looks real, given that Laos has recently become a partner of the SCO. According to an informed interlocutor of Izvestia, the country is showing cautious interest in the EAEU. However, everything is still at an early stage and there are no specific agreements.

Not so long ago, as part of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, a railway was built that connects southern China with Laos, and it is planned to continue its construction to the southern tip of the Indochina Peninsula (to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia). This is a major infrastructural event that will change the role and place of Laos in the regional communications system, Ekaterina Koldunova said. Currently, Laos has two thirds of its trade turnover with Thailand. China is in second place (about 16%) and Vietnam accounts for less than 10%, Kotkov said.

Energy cooperation was also on the agenda of the talks. Russia and Laos previously signed a roadmap on cooperation in the field of peaceful atom use. Moscow sees good prospects in the implementation of the project for the construction of a low-power power plant in the DPRK. This initiative is important for Laos for several reasons: the country sells some of its energy to its neighbors, and cryptocurrency mining is also actively developing here.

In addition, with the help of the Soviet Union, a hydroelectric power plant was built near Vientiane. According to Kotkov, there are good prospects for making Laos "the battery of the entire Indochina, because almost all the rivers here are mountainous and rapid."