Timeline: US-Laos Relations

• • 1953-54: Laos gained full independence in 1953. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Laos were maintained after the First Geneva Conference in 1954.

• • 1955-63: The US provided over $480 million in economic aid to Laos.

• • 1964-73: The US carried out extensive bombing in eastern Laos, targeting communist bases in the north in an attempt to stop North Vietnamese supplies flowing into South Vietnam.

• • 1975: As the Paris Peace Accords resolved the conflict in Vietnam in 1973, the Communist Pathet Lao prevailed over the US-supported Royal Lao Government and established the Lao People's Democratic Republic in December. Between 1975 and 1998, the United States admitted over 130,000 Hmong refugees, many of whom had fought against the Pathet Lao.

• • 1985: In February, the first US-Lao joint search mission for American MIAs went into the field.

• • 1992: US-Lao diplomatic relations returned to ambassadorial representation.

• • 2004: President George W. Bush signed a bill extending normal trade relations with Laos in December.

• • 2005: The bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Laos entered into force in February.

• • 2009: Citing Laos' commitment to opening its markets, the United States removed the prohibition on US Export-Import Bank financing for US companies wanting to do business in Laos.