6 May 2025
Thursday 8 September 2016 - 16:07
Story Code : 230574

Reaching out to Laos, Obama seeks 'Concession Prize' in twilight of Presidency

Barack Obama is accelerating his pivot to Asia, and seeking closer ties with Laos and new trade partners in the region, Dustin Daugherty, ASEAN Business Intelligence Associate at Dezan Shira & Associates, told Radio Sputnik.

At the Association of�Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in�Laos this week, US President Barack Obama made a speech in�which he sought to�acknowledge the suffering and devastation caused by�America's bombing campaign during�the Vietnam War.

Between 1964 and 1973 the US dropped 260 million bombs over�Laos, a campaign which made it the world's most heavily bombed country in�human history.

Obama is the first sitting US president to�visit Laos, and promised the country $90 million in�aid over�three years to�help the country find and dispose of�unexploded bombs. Dustin Daugherty, ASEAN Business Intelligence Associate at�Dezan Shira & Associates, told Radio Sputnik that Obama's effort to�build bridges with�Laos is one of�several attempts at�a closer relationship with�countries that have a difficult history with�the US. "Many Americans might not be aware of�it, or haven't heard of�Laos since�the 70s, but�there is a troubled relationship there, so I think these moves are very positive and part and parcel of�his legacy of�having opened the door to�Cuba, and the nuclear deal with�Iran."

Daugherty said that reaching out�to Laos is also part of�the Obama administration's attempt to�pivot towards�Asia. While pulling Laos out�of the China's sphere of�influence is unrealistic, Washington is hoping for�closer economic ties, similar to�those it has with�Vietnam.

"Washington has a modus operandi to�get in�there, and now it has an economic impetus behind�it." The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is unlikely to�be agreed before�the Obama presidency finishes at�the end of�this year, so fostering closer ties with�Laos and attracting new Asian trade partners would soften that blow.� "Any improvements that can be had with�new trade partners in�Asia in�lieu of�the TPP would be a concession prize for�Obama," Daugherty said. "This is a last push during�the Obama presidency, with�some uncertainty about�what happens next, and also a response to�the continuing rise of�China's influence in�the region."

By Sputnik News
https://theiranproject.com/vdca0wnuy49nem1.tgk4.html
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