Foreign relations of Timor-Leste

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Sidebar with collapsible lists After the referendum on independence on 30 August 1999, Timor-Leste became an independent nation on 20 May 2002 and began initiating diplomatic relations with the rest of the global community.

Policy

The foreign policy of Timor-Leste has been defined by its position as a small state surrounded by two much larger powers. Rather than formally aligning with any particular state or bloc, Timor-Leste has sought a diverse set of positive relationships. Upon independence foreign policy was shaped by José Ramos-Horta, who has previously campaigned internationally for East Timorese independence. Ramos-Horta was a proponent of Internationalism, and held sway until 2012. Following elections in 2012, leaders such as Xanana Gusmão and Taur Matan Ruak pursued a slightly more nationalistic foreign policy.Template:Rp

Timor-Leste has pursued membership in a variety of multilateral forums, positioning itself as a reliable international actor. This promotion of international law is tied to the countries own security needs. Its broad global relations are shaped by its history, with its ties outside of its immediate region influenced by Catholicism, and by Portuguese colonial history. Regionally, its relations are influenced by cultural links to nearby regions, as well by the need to ensure security and independence in the light of the power imbalance between Timor-Leste and its neighbours, Australia and Indonesia.Template:Rp Upon independence, it sought membership of ASEAN, despite historical ASEAN support of the Indonesian position and cultural links with Melanesia that were part of the East Timorese identity.Template:Rp

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Timor-Leste maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Timor-Leste.svg
#	Country	Date
1	China	Template:Dts
2	Norway	Template:Dts
3	Thailand	Template:Dts
4	Algeria	Template:Dts
5	Angola	Template:Dts
6	Australia	Template:Dts
7	Brazil	Template:Dts
8	Brunei	Template:Dts
9	Colombia	Template:Dts
10	Cuba	Template:Dts
11	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
12	Egypt	Template:Dts
13	Germany	Template:Dts
14	Ghana	Template:Dts
15	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
16	Israel	Template:Dts
17	Japan	Template:Dts
18	Malaysia	Template:Dts
19	Mozambique	Template:Dts
20	New Zealand	Template:Dts
21	Philippines	Template:Dts
22	Portugal	Template:Dts
23	Russia	Template:Dts
—	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Template:Dts
24	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
25	Singapore	Template:Dts
26	South Korea	Template:Dts
27	Spain	Template:Dts
28	Sweden	Template:Dts
29	Turkey	Template:Dts
31	United States	Template:Dts
32	Canada	Template:Dts
33	Qatar	Template:Dts
34	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
35	Cyprus	Template:Dts
36	Finland	Template:Dts
37	Indonesia	Template:Dts
38	Papua New Guinea	Template:Dts
39	Vietnam	Template:Dts
40	Cambodia	Template:Dts
41	France	Template:Dts
42	Laos	Template:Dts
43	Palau	Template:Dts
44	Vanuatu	Template:Dts
45	Fiji	Template:Dts
46	Chile	Template:Dts
47	Switzerland	Template:Dts
48	Austria	Template:Dts
49	Peru	Template:Dts
50	Belgium	Template:Dts
51	Slovakia	Template:Dts
52	Argentina	Template:Dts
53	North Korea	Template:Dts
54	Poland	Template:Dts
55	Maldives	Template:Dts
56	Tonga	Template:Dts
57	Romania	Template:Dts
—	Cook Islands	Template:Dts
58	Italy	Template:Dts
59	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
59	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
60	Hungary	Template:Dts
61	India	Template:Dts
62	Ireland	Template:Dts
63	South Africa	Template:Dts
64	Croatia	Template:Dts
65	Denmark	Template:Dts
66	Mauritius	Template:Dts
67	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
68	Slovenia	Template:Dts
69	Greece	Template:Dts
70	Belize	Template:Dts
71	Costa Rica	Template:Dts
72	Cameroon	Template:Dts
73	Malta	Template:Dts
74	El Salvador	Template:Dts
75	Mexico	Template:Dts
76	Ukraine	Template:Dts
77	Namibia	Template:Dts
78	Mongolia	Template:Dts
79	Iran	Template:Dts
80	Netherlands	Template:Dts
81	Iceland	Template:Dts
82	Kuwait	Template:Dts
83	Armenia	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
84	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
85	Samoa	Template:Dts
86	Nigeria	Template:Dts
87	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
88	Lebanon	Template:Dts
89	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
90	Venezuela	Template:Dts
91	Estonia	Template:Dts
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Template:Dts
92	Myanmar	Template:Dts
93	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
94	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
95	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
96	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
97	Uruguay	Template:Dts
98	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
99	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
100	Monaco	Template:Dts
101	Montenegro	Template:Dts
102	Ecuador	Template:Dts
103	Andorra	Template:Dts
104	San Marino	Template:Dts
105	South Sudan	Template:Dts
106	Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
107	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
108	Tuvalu	Template:Dts
109	Haiti	Template:Dts
110	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
111	Latvia	Template:Dts
112	Lithuania	Template:Dts
113	Jamaica	Template:Dts
114	Belarus	Template:Dts
115	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
116	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
117	Pakistan	Template:Dts
118	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
119	Bahrain	Template:Dts
120	Dominica	Template:Dts
121	Serbia	Template:Dts
122	Nepal	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo	Template:Dts
124	Oman	Template:Dts
124	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
125	Paraguay	Template:Dts
126	Panama	Template:Dts
127	Guatemala	Template:Dts
128	Benin	Template:Dts
129	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
130	Bolivia	Template:Dts
131	Uganda	Template:Dts
132	Jordan	Template:Dts
133	Togo	Unknown

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Australia		See Australia–Timor-Leste relations Australia and Timor-Leste are near neighbours with close political and trade ties. For many years Australia implicitly supported the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, giving priority to the policy of maintaining good relations with Indonesia. This policy was however changed in the late 1990s, when Australia began to support the UN. Since then, Australia has played a prominent role in the young republic's history. Australia led the military force that helped stabilise the country after it chose independence from Indonesia in 1999 and also after the internal conflict in 2006 and has been a major source of aid since. Australia has an embassy in Dili. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Canberra and consulates-general in Darwin and Sydney.
Brazil		See Brazil–Timor-Leste relations Brazil and Timor-Leste are both Portuguese-speaking and relations are friendly. Brazil has a co-operation program with Timor-Leste, that includes a wide range of areas, including labour policy, justice, national security, culture, agriculture, education, governance, sports, environment and health. Brazil has an embassy in Dili. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Brasília.
China		See China–Timor-Leste relations China has an embassy in Dili. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Beijing.
Template:Country data Georgia		Georgia is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.
India		See India–Timor-Leste relations Relations between Timor-Leste and India date back to the early modern period. Indian traders traveled to the island in search of sandalwood. Trade links increased after the Portuguese colonisation of Timor-Leste and portions of India. The Portuguese set up various garrisoned centres in India to carry out this trade, and all of Portugal's territories in Asia, including Timor-Leste, were governed by the Portuguese Viceroy in Goa. Portuguese-trained Goan missionaries arrived in Timor-Leste in the early 17th century, and were influential in spreading Catholicism in the country. Indians also traveled to Timor-Leste to serve as soldiers, colonial bureaucrats, and missionaries. Some Indians arrived in Timor-Leste in the late 19th century to work as migrant labour. A small community of Timorese nationals of Goan descent trace their heritage back to these previous generations of immigrants. India was the second country to recognize the independence of Timor-Leste. Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah led a high-level delegation representing India at Timor-Leste's Independence Day celebrations in May 2002. Abdullah presented letters of felicitations from the President, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Foreign Minister. Diplomatic relations between the two countries was formally established on 24 January 2003. At the UN General Assembly in 2003, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Alkatiri announced his country's support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. India diplomats Kamlesh Sharma and Atul Khare served as the Special Representative of Secretary General (SRSG) in Timor-Leste until 2004 and 2009 respectively. India's DPR in New York was a member of the UN Security Council appointed team that visited Timor-Leste in November to assess the situation on the ground and seek feedback from the all parties regarding the withdrawal of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)'s and the situation in the country post-withdrawal. Timor-Leste voted for India's candidature for a non-permanent seat during 2011–12. The country also supported the election of Poonam Khetrapal Singh for the post of Regional Director, South East Asia Regional office (SEARO), WHO in September 2013. Timor-Leste co-sponsored a resolution moved by India at the UN General Assembly in January 2015, to declare 21 June as International Yoga Day. Several high-level visits between officials of the two countries have taken place. East Timorese Vice Minister of Health Natalia D. Araujo visited Delhi to participate in the International Conference on Traditional Medicine for South East Asian Countries in February 2013, and is the first East Timorese government official to visit India. Finance Minister Emilia Pires visited India in May 2013 to attend the ADB Governors' Meeting. Hernani Coelho was the first East Timorese Foreign Minister to India. He arrived in the country on a two-day visit in 27–29 March 2016 and met with the Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State (VKS) and the Minister of Health & Family Welfare. At the ASEAN-India Summit 2023 in Jakarta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement that India will soon opening its new embassy in Timorese capital Dili.
Indonesia		See Indonesia–Timor-Leste relations File:Indo-timor border.jpg Indonesia-Timor-Leste border in Mota'ain Despite the traumatic past, relations with Indonesia are very good. Indonesia is by far the largest trading partner of Timor-Leste (Approximately 50% of imports, 2005) and is steadily increasing its share. The East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets to survey and delimit land boundary; and Indonesia is seeking resolution of East Timorese refugees in Indonesia.
Israel		See Israel–Timor-Leste relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in May 2002.
Japan		See Japan–Timor-Leste relations Timor-Leste has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Dili.
Kosovo	10 March 2022	See Kosovo–Timor-Leste relations Timor-Leste recognised the independence of Kosovo on 20 September 2012. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 2022.
Malaysia		See Malaysia–Timor-Leste relations Malaysia has contributed to many UN peacekeeping missions on the country, such as one are the Operation Astute during the 2006 East Timorese crisis. Malaysia also has provided assistance to Timor-Leste in the area of human resources development through various training programmes and providing assistance to Timor-Leste in its nation building efforts. Currently, Malaysia has been consider by East Timorese as a model to develop their countries. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Dili.
Mexico	26 September 2003	See Mexico–Timor-Leste relations File:Honorarkonsulat von Mexiko in Av. Portugal, Pantai Kelapa, Comoro.jpg Honorary consulate of Mexico in Dili Timor-Leste is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Timor-Leste from its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia and maintains an honorary consulate in Dili.
Philippines		See Philippines–Timor-Leste relations The Philippines is one of the biggest contributor to the UN-backed peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste even before the Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia. Being the only two predominantly Catholic nation in Asia, relations with the Philippines became very positive as soon as Timor-Leste was multilaterally recognised as an independent state. The two countries are now engaged in a growing commercial relationship, as well as cultural and educational exchanges. The Philippines is a vocal supporter of Timor-Leste's membership in ASEAN. On 6 June 2013, both countries signed three agreements in Manila concerning infrastructure development, defence and education. Both nations were conquered by the Iberian powers, mainly by Spain and Portugal, in the 16th century.
Portugal		See Portugal–Timor-Leste relations File:Europa Haus (cropped).jpg The Casa Europa in Dili, the European Union's representation in Timor-Leste Embassy of Portugal in Dili Timor-Leste was a colony of Portugal for over 400 years. As a former Portuguese colony, Timor-Leste has a significant proportion of Portuguese speakers. Portuguese is one of the two official languages of Timor and it is a full member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. From 1986, Portugal started to make the self-determination of Timor-Leste a major concern of its diplomatic policy, at a time when the occupation of this country by Indonesia was still a matter forgotten by the international community. The diplomatic efforts from Portugal were able to achieve a growing international support, including from countries, as Australia and the US, that hitherto implicitly supported the Indonesian occupation. This efforts would eventually lead to a referendum and the independence of Timor-Leste in 2002. Other ties include connections between the National University of Timor-Leste and Coimbra University, and between the military forces of Timor-Leste and Portugal. Timor-Leste opened its first Embassy abroad in Lisbon on 5 July 2002 Timor-Leste has an embassy in Lisbon. Portugal has an embassy in Dili.
Russia		See Russia–Timor-Leste relations Russia was one of the first countries to recognise Timor-Leste's independence and took part in nearly all UN aid programs, providing food and relief personnel, including civil and transport aviation pilots. After the shooting of José Ramos-Horta (former president of Timor-Leste), the Russian ministry said; "The Russian side expresses its concern over the attempt on the life of the Timor-Leste president, and hopes political stability in East Timor will be maintained, as a fundamental condition for a successful solution to the complicated problems it is facing. And in the interests of strengthening national unity and ensuring social and economic development." Russia is accredited to Timor-Leste from its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Serbia		Serbia is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.
Singapore	20 May 2002	Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 20, 2002. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste set up an embassy in Singapore on 1 December 2010 During a meeting with his Timorese counterpart, Bendito dos Santos Freitas on July 24, 2023, Singapore FM Dr Vivian Balakrishnan officially announced to open embassy in Dili.
South Korea		In 2023, around 3,700 East Timorese worked in South Korea. There are plans to increase cooperation between South Korea's island province of Jeju with Timor-Leste's island municipality Atauro.
Turkey		See Timor-Leste–Turkey relations Turkey is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.
United Kingdom	2002	See Timor-Leste–United Kingdom relations File:Foreign Secretary David Lammy meets president of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta (54475577565).jpg Foreign Secretary David Lammy with East Timorese President José Ramos-Horta in London, April 2025. Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 2002. Timor-Leste maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Timor-Leste from its embassy in Jakarta; there is no British embassy in Timor-Leste. On 29 February 2024, the UK announced its intentions to re-open an embassy in Dili. The United Kingdom committed its support for the accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN.
United States		See Timor-Leste–United States relations File:Embaixada dos EUA2.jpg Embassy of the United States in Dili The United States has a large bilateral development assistance program, $20.6 million in 2007, and also contributes funds as a major member of a number of multilateral agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The US Peace Corps has operated in Timor-Leste since 2002, but it suspended operations in May 2006 due to unrest and instability. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Dili.
Vietnam	28 July 2002	Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002. Vietnam is accredited to Timor-Leste through its embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Timor-Leste has an embassy in Hanoi.

Multilateral relations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Timor-Leste was one of the only countries in Southeast Asia that is not a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, Timor-Leste has expressed its intention of gaining observer status to ASEAN in July 2002 and in 2006 it was considered six years to join. However, Timor-Leste has attended many meetings of ASEAN regardless. In 2007 Timor-Leste signed the ASEAN Treaty on Amity and Co-operation. On October 26, 2025, Timor-Leste became the 11th member state of ASEAN with the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN.

See also

• Foreign aid to Timor-Leste
• List of diplomatic missions in Timor-Leste
• List of diplomatic missions of Timor-Leste

External links

• Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste Template:Webarchive
• Embassy of Brazil in Dili