Pathet Lao

The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and armed group in Laos, active primarily from the 1950s to the 1970s. They sought to establish a socialist government and were influenced by neighboring Vietnam’s communist movement. Initially fighting against royalist and neutral factions, they gained control of Laos in 1975, leading to the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Supported by North Vietnam and the Soviet Union, the Pathet Lao played a key role in the country’s political transformation, representing a shift toward communist governance in Laos after years of conflict and civil war.