Laotian Secret War

Laotian Civil War

Part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars, and the Cold War

Laos

Date

9 November 1953 – 2 December 1975
(22 years, 3 weeks and 2 days)

Location

Kingdom of Laos

Result

Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese victory

Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Belligerents

Kingdom of Laos

United States

South Vietnam

Thailand
Supported by:

Philippines

Republic of China

Pathet Lao

North Vietnam
Supported by:

Soviet Union

People's Republic of China

Commanders and leaders

Strength

50,000 soldiers (1954)

21,000 mercenaries (1963)

19,000–23,000 Hmong militiamen (1964)

8,000 (1960)
48,000 (1970)

Casualties and losses

~15,000 Royal Lao Army

3,000+ North Vietnamese troops
Unknown Pathet Lao casualties

200,000 estimated deaths including civilians,

1,000,000 estimated casualties including civilians

Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese victory

200,000 estimated deaths including civilians,

The Laotian Civil War (1953–75) was fought between the Communist Pathet Lao (including many North Vietnamese of Lao ancestry) and the Royal Lao Government, with both sides receiving heavy external support in a proxy war between the global Cold War superpowers. It is called the Secret War among the CIA Special Activities Division and Hmong veterans of the conflict.

The Kingdom of Laos was a covert theatre for other belligerents during the Vietnam War. The Franco–Lao Treaty of Amity and Association (signed 22 October 1953) transferred remaining French powers to the Royal Lao Government (except control of military affairs), establishing Laos as an independent member of the French Union. However, this government did not include representatives from the Lao Issara anti-colonial armed nationalist movement.

The following years were marked by a rivalry between the neutralists under Prince Souvanna Phouma, the right wing under Prince Boun Oum of Champassak, and the left-wing Lao Patriotic Front under Prince Souphanouvong and half-Vietnamese future Prime Minister Kaysone Phomvihane. Several attempts were made to establish coalition governments, and a "tri-coalition" government was finally seated in Vientiane.

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Wikipedia