Laos-UK Turn 70: Ready for a New Era?

Laos and the UK turn 70. Although progress is being celebrated, there is still room for mature further. This milestone should be revisited and redefined, while also requiring the subtle nuance and momentum to improve bilateral and regional cooperation, and promote sustainable development for future generations.

Established in September 1955, the relationship has endured through a periods of global and regional changes of the Cold War. The British Embassy in Vientiane, which closed in 1985 due to economic reasons, finally reopened in 2012 after a 27-year hiatus, followed by the Laos Embassy in London reopening in 2014. This reopening marked a renewed and creative partnership. The relationship between Laos and the UK is progressing, with both countries committed to maintaining and strengthening existing ties.

Yet, as both countries mark the 70^th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025, it is a critical moment to not merely celebrated the past, but to confront the future. Efforts must be to revisit and redefine the Laos-UK relationship for the 21^st century.

As an ASEAN member in the Mekong region, Laos’s stability offers advantages to the UK on it pivotal beyond traditional diplomacy, towards free and open Indo-Pacific. As Stephen Lille, FCDO Director for Asia-Pacific, aptly described it as – a ‘creative partnership’. This enduring relationship has featured four high-level Political Consultations and continues to provide a regular platform for both parties to exchange ideas and influence policies.

While the trade volume may seem small - £74 million from the 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, present a positive upward trend. Laos exports clothing and agricultural products to the UK, and in exchange for vehicles and beverages. Additionally, since the implementation of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) in June 2023, Laos is estimated to save about £1.7 million annually on tariffs, which helps facilitate trade flows between the two countries.

The efforts to fostering green and resilient societies stand as a key area of the partnership. Collaboratives such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, MoU on Green Economy Framework, reflect a shared dedication towards green economy, climate change, and environment. Additionally, the UK has been a pioneering partner to Laos on unexploded ordnance clearance (UXO) through providing experts and funding; from 2016 to 2023, the UK is the largest bilateral donor with £16 million ($22 million). At the same time, education remains a vital pillar of this partnership through the Chevening Scholarship, providing opportunities for Lao students in the UK.

Recently, the UK's engagement with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) put additional role to help build a safer, sustainable, and prosperous Mekong. Following with the visit of UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West in April 2025 also highlights the depth of the partnership, extending beyond bilateral relations to the sub-region and ASEAN.

As the Dialogue partner to ASEAN, the UK has supported Laos's chairmanship back in 2024. Laos co-chaired the 3rd ASEAN-UK Foreign Minister meeting and marked the progress of Laos' role with the UK at the regional levels as well as its contribution to the realization of the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2022-2026).

Ready for a New Era?

Despite the progress, there is a need to “revisit” and “redefine” this partnership for the 21st century.

The UK’s engagement with Laos is not an isolated effort; rather, it is part of a broader strategic investment in Southeast Asia, with ASEAN at the core of the Indo-Pacific region. Revisiting the relationship means moving beyond a transactional dynamic. The UK should use Laos’ evolving role as a land-linked hub in Southeast Asia, recognizing it not as a passive donor-recipient model, but as a strategic partner. This requires a shift in perspective – from providing assistance to fostering mutual collaboration.

While current relations set the stage for a shift toward a new era, this new era for Laos and the UK would involve a partnership that expands political options through smart diplomacy, mainly through building new pillars for cooperation. This includes the UK increasing its role to be an “option” and “choice” partner for Laos’s development journey and partnership. It also means broadening the economic relationship beyond traditional trade to include technical assistance and policy dialogue, aiming to improve the sustainability and betterment of the Laotian people. In turn, Laos can contribute to its friendship with the UK by engaging with ASEAN, while also fostering mutual understanding towards international values.

Maneuvering their bilateral partnership with gentle diplomacy would inject vitality, improve existing cooperation, and open avenues for new initiatives. This required subtle “nuance” and “momentum” to move things forward effectively and aptly.

Furthermore, this new era of collaboration should extend beyond government ties; fostering people-to-people connections is essential. Regular public events, joint research, and exchange programs can promote cultural understanding and increase awareness of the relationship between London and Vientiane.

The opinions shared by the contributor and in this article is solely of the author and do not reflect the views of the institution.

Vanndasambath Chhuon is the General Coordinator of the ASEAN-UK Young Leaders Initiative and the Deputy Director of the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, a foreign policy think tank based in Phnom Penh.