On January 24, 2025, U.S. Ambassador to Laos Heather Variava met with the new Foreign Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Thongsavanh Phomvihane. This meeting marked their first official engagement since the minister's appointment.
During the meeting, Ambassador Variava extended her congratulations to Minister Phomvihane on his new role and acknowledged the Lao government's successful tenure as ASEAN Chair. The discussions focused on the evolution of Lao-U.S. cooperation, particularly following the upgrade to a comprehensive partnership in 2016.
Ambassador Variava emphasized the approach of President Trump regarding bilateral relations, stating that "cooperation should make both countries stronger, safer, and more prosperous."