Laos Military Forces 🇱🇦

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is a landlocked state with stronger neighbors: Vietnam, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) are constitutionally tasked with defending the gains of the 1975 revolution and the authority of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). Consequently, the military's primary missions are internal security and border control. Laos maintains no significant external threats, having stabilized relations with its neighbors.

Historically, Laos has been dominated by military struggles against Thailand and Vietnam. Following the establishment of the Lao PDR, the country has maintained a strong, independent foreign policy, fostering military ties to create a favorable environment for its domestic policy goals. This includes exchanging military delegations and defense attachés with countries like Vietnam, China, Russia, Thailand, and the United States.

Military Forces

The LPAF is a small, modestly funded, and poorly equipped force. Its mission focus is internal security, including suppressing political unrest, and border security. The LPAF consists of the Lao People's Army (LPA), the Air Force, a Riverine Force, and Self-Defence Militia Forces. The entire military and security apparatus is under the direct, unified, and full control of the LPRP's Defence and Public Security Commission. The president serves as the commander-in-chief.

The army transitioned from a guerrilla force to a conventional military after 1975, but its development has been hampered by limited resources. It relies on external partners for equipment and training. The air force is small, and the army includes a riverine force for patrolling the Mekong River. The military also incorporates militia and self-defense forces to support its internal security and defense operations.