MAAG Laos

The Military Assistance Advisory Group, Laos (MAAG Laos) was established by the United States in 1955 to provide military aid, training, and advisory support to the Royal Lao Armed Forces during the early stages of the Laotian Civil War. Operating in a challenging environment shaped by Cold War tensions, MAAG Laos sought to bolster Laos’ ability to resist communist insurgency, particularly from the Pathet Lao and their North Vietnamese allies. The group worked closely with both military and civilian agencies to coordinate American assistance while navigating the restrictions imposed by international agreements, such as the 1962 Geneva Accords. In 1962, following these accords and a pledge to neutralize Laos, the official MAAG Laos presence was withdrawn, though U.S. involvement in Laos continued covertly through other channels.