India-Laos defence ties: Margherita holds key talks in Vientiane
Synopsis
India's MoS for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita held back-to-back meetings with Laos's Defence Minister, Foreign Minister, and Deputy Foreign Minister in Vientiane — putting defence capacity building and digital cooperation at the heart of a relationship entering its 71st year. The visit signals India's quiet but deliberate push to deepen its footprint in ASEAN through bilateral defence and development diplomacy.
Key Takeaways
MoS Pabitra Margherita visited Vientiane on 28 August for high-level bilateral engagements with Laos's leadership.
He met General Khamlieng Outhakaisone , Deputy PM and Defence Minister of Laos, focusing on capacity building and training .
A separate meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Anouparb Vongnorkeo covered trade, health, digital cooperation, and development partnership .
Margherita also called on Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane , conveying greetings from EAM S.
The visit coincides with 70 years of India-Laos diplomatic relations , marked by a joint seminar on the bilateral partnership's evolution.
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Friday, 28 August held a series of high-level meetings in Vientiane, engaging with Laos's top leadership to advance India-Laos defence cooperation, bilateral trade, and people-to-people ties — as the two nations mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.
Defence and Capacity Building at the Centre
Margherita met General Khamlieng Outhakaisone, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos, to discuss deepening bilateral defence ties. The two sides focused specifically on capacity building and training initiatives as priority areas for near-term collaboration. 'Had a productive meeting with H.E. General Khamlieng Outhakaisone, Dy. Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Lao PDR. Exchanged views on further strengthening India-Laos defence ties, focusing on capacity building and training initiatives,' Margherita said in a post on X.
Multi-Sectoral Bilateral Ties Reviewed
Margherita also met Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Foreign Minister of Laos, for a wide-ranging review of bilateral cooperation. The discussions covered trade, commerce, health, digital cooperation, development partnership, and defence, as well as strengthening people-to-people linkages and coordination in multilateral forums. 'Had an engaging meeting with H.E. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Dy. Foreign Minister of Lao PDR. Reviewed our multi-sectoral bilateral ties across trade, commerce, health, digital cooperation, development partnership, and defence. Also discussed strengthening people-to-people linkages and cooperation in multilateral fora,' he stated on X.
Call on the Foreign Minister
Earlier in the day, Margherita called on Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos. He conveyed greetings from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and reaffirmed India's commitment to the bilateral partnership. 'Reaffirmed India's warm and friendly ties with Lao PDR and our commitment to strengthening the India-Lao PDR partnership for shared progress and prosperity as we mark 70 years of diplomatic relations,' Margherita stated on X.
Seminar on 70 Years of India-Laos Partnership
Margherita also addressed members of the Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior dignitaries at a joint seminar titled 'India and Lao PDR at 70: From Development Partnership to Comprehensive Partnership'. He highlighted the long-standing historical ties between the two countries, built on mutual trust, and underlined their growing role as partners in the Global South. The seminar pointed to significant potential for future collaboration across emerging sectors in the years ahead.
What This Visit Signals
The Vientiane visit comes at a strategically significant moment — India has been steadily deepening its engagement with ASEAN nations under its Act East Policy, and Laos, which held the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024, represents a key node in that network. This is the latest in a series of outreach efforts by New Delhi to consolidate ties with Southeast Asian neighbours through defence cooperation, digital infrastructure, and development assistance.
Point of View
But meaningful traction has been uneven — and Laos, a landlocked nation with growing Chinese infrastructure dependency, is precisely where India needs a credible alternative presence. Framing the visit around defence capacity building and digital cooperation, rather than just trade, suggests New Delhi is recalibrating its pitch to smaller ASEAN partners. The 70-year diplomatic milestone is a useful peg, but the real test is whether these conversations translate into concrete training programmes and project commitments — or remain in the realm of diplomatic seminar rhetoric.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did MoS Pabitra Margherita visit Vientiane?
Margherita visited Vientiane on 28 August to hold high-level bilateral meetings with Laos's top leadership, focusing on strengthening India-Laos defence ties, reviewing multi-sectoral cooperation, and marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
What was discussed in the India-Laos defence meeting?
Margherita and Laos Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Khamlieng Outhakaisone discussed further strengthening India-Laos defence ties, with a specific focus on capacity building and training initiatives as priority areas for collaboration.
Which sectors were covered in the bilateral review with the Deputy Foreign Minister?
The meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Anouparb Vongnorkeo covered trade, commerce, health, digital cooperation, development partnership, and defence, along with people-to-people linkages and coordination in multilateral forums.
What is the significance of 70 years of India-Laos diplomatic relations?
India and Laos are marking seven decades of diplomatic ties in 2025. The milestone was commemorated through a joint seminar titled 'India and Lao PDR at 70: From Development Partnership to Comprehensive Partnership', highlighting the evolution of bilateral engagement from development aid to a broader strategic partnership.
How does this visit fit into India's broader foreign policy?
The visit is part of India's Act East Policy, which seeks to deepen engagement with ASEAN nations. Laos, a key ASEAN member and former 2024 chair, is seen as an important partner for India's outreach into Southeast Asia through defence cooperation, digital infrastructure, and development assistance.
