US Rapprochement with Laos and Cambodia

This study analyses the process of rapprochement in United States relations with Laos and Cambodia. It discusses the key domestic and international factors that influenced decision-making in Washington, Vientiane and Phnom Penh to initiate this process. US-Lao rapprochement has evolved gradually since the mid-1980s. Lao assistance in accounting for US servicemen missing-in-action during the Vietnam War was a key driver. After ambassadorial relations were restored in 1992 both sides sought to address the concerns of the other and this led to an expansion of political, economic and military relations. US relations with Cambodia, experienced ups and downs due to the repressive policies of the Hun Sen government. Domestic upheaval in 1997 led the US to suspend economic assistance for a decade. Nevertheless, trade relations followed an upward trajectory as the US became Cambodia's most important market. In contrast to Laos, military-to-military relations developed considerably with a high point in 2009 with the visit of the Cambodian Defence Minister to Washington. This study highlights the importance of domestic factors driving rapprochement, with the role of the US Congress and Lao diaspora playing important roles. But external factors have also influenced this process, particularly after Laos and Cambodia became members of ASEAN and the Obama administration began to stress multilateral engagement. The upward trajectory of bilateral relations will continue to be constrained by the authoritarian nature of the Lao and Cambodian political systems and human rights abuses. But this factor will be mitigated somewhat by US geostrategic rivalry with China.