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Foreign relations of Timor-Leste

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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.

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. 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.

Diplomatic relations

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

[[File:Diplomatic relations of Timor-Leste.svgframeless425x425px]]#Countrytitle=Country and regionurl=https://mnec.gov.tl/tp/countrynregionwebsite=mnec.gov.tlaccess-date=15 March 2025lang=tet}}
1China
2Norway
3Thailand
4Algeria
5Angola
6Australia
7Brazil
8Brunei
9Colombia
10Cuba
11Czech Republic
12Egypt
13Germany
14Ghana
15Guinea-Bissau
—Holy See
16Israel
17Japan
18Malaysia
19Mozambique
20New Zealand
21Philippines
22Portugal
23Russia
—Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
24São Tomé and Príncipe
25Singapore
26South Korea
27Spain
28Sweden
29Turkey
31United States
32Canada
33Qatar
34Bangladesh
35Cyprus
36Finland
37Indonesia
38Papua New Guinea
39Vietnam
40Cambodia
41France
42Laos
43Palau
44Vanuatu
45Fiji
46Chile
47Switzerland
48Austria
49Peru
50Belgium
51Slovakia
52Argentina
53North Korea
54Poland
55Maldives
56Tonga
57Romania
—Cook Islands
58Italy
59United Kingdom
59Bulgaria
60Hungary
61India
62Ireland
63South Africa
64Croatia
65Denmark
66Mauritius
67North Macedonia
68Slovenia
69Greece
70Belize
71Costa Rica
72Cameroon
73Malta
74El Salvador
75Mexico
76Ukraine
77Namibia
78Mongolia
79Iran
80Netherlands
81Iceland
82Kuwait
83Armenia
—State of Palestine
84Azerbaijan
85Samoa
86Nigeria
87Bosnia and Herzegovina
88Lebanon
89Tajikistan
90Venezuela
91Estonia
—Sovereign Military Order of Malta
92Myanmar
93Republic of the Congo
94Luxembourg
95Dominican Republic
96Nicaragua
97Uruguay
98United Arab Emirates
99Cape Verde
100Monaco
101Montenegro
102Ecuador
103Andorra
104San Marino
105South Sudan
106Solomon Islands
107Georgia
108Tuvalu
109Haiti
110Trinidad and Tobago
111Latvia
112Lithuania
113Jamaica
114Belarus
115Equatorial Guinea
116Saudi Arabia
117Pakistan
118Marshall Islands
119Bahrain
120Dominica
121Serbia
122Nepal
—Kosovo
124Oman
124Sri Lanka
125Paraguay
126Panama
127Guatemala
128Benin
129Saint Lucia
130Bolivia
131Uganda
132Jordan
133Burundi
134TogoUnknown

Bilateral relations

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
AustraliaSee Australia–Timor-Leste relations
BrazilSee Brazil–Timor-Leste relations
ChinaSee China–Timor-Leste relations
GeorgiaGeorgia is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.
IndiaSee India–Timor-Leste relations
IndonesiaSee Indonesia–Timor-Leste relations
IsraelSee Israel–Timor-Leste relations
JapanSee Japan–Timor-Leste relations
Kosovo10 March 2022See Kosovo–Timor-Leste relations
MalaysiaSee Malaysia–Timor-Leste relations
Mexico26 September 2003See Mexico–Timor-Leste relations
PhilippinesSee Philippines–Timor-Leste relations
PortugalSee Portugal–Timor-Leste relations
RussiaSee Russia–Timor-Leste relations
Serbia
Singapore20 May 2002
South Korea
TurkeySee Timor-Leste–Turkey relations
United Kingdom2002See Timor-Leste–United Kingdom relations
United StatesSee Timor-Leste–United States relations
Vietnam28 July 2002

Multilateral relations

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Main article: Accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN

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.

Literature

References

References

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  5. "Presentation of Credentials to the President of Timor Leste 15/11/2021. Embassy of Algeria in Australia".
  6. (9 July 2022). "Timor Leste and Brunei Darussalam sign Air Services Agreement".
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  9. (5 June 2022). "Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union presented letter of credence to the President of the Czech Republic".
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  15. "The Republic of the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002. Embassy of Philippines Dili".
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  23. "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Timor-Leste".
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  28. "Press Release".
  29. "Les Acteurs Français Dans Le "Post-Conflit"".
  30. "LIST OF STATES WHICH THE LAO PDR HAS ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SINCE 1950".
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  45. "list of countries who which established diplomatic relations with Samoa".
  46. "Lista zemalja koje su priznale Bosnu i Hercegovinu i datumi uspostavljanja diplomatskih odnosa".
  47. (11 October 2021). "2005: Gaceta 38305: RESOLUCIÓN: RELACIONES EXTERIORES: ESTABLECIMIENTO DE RELACIONES DIPLOMATICAS ENTRE VENEZUELA Y TIMOR ORIENTAL.".
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  53. (13 November 2012). "Haïti - Politique : Le Timor Oriental fait don d'1 millions de dollars à Haïti". Haiti Libre.
  54. "Timor-Leste and Trinidad and Tobago establish diplomatic relations".
  55. (27 September 2016). "Ambassador Aqil Nadeem currently in East Timor to present his credentials to the President of East Timor had detailed interaction with Pakistani community.".
  56. (22 September 2022). "Together with Foreign Minister ErikaMouynes of Panama, I signed Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between TimorLeste & Panama in the margins on the 77th Session of the #NGA (20/09)".
  57. "Relaciones Diplomáticas de Guatemala".
  58. (2 June 2014). "Primeiro-Ministro nomeado para o Conselho Consultivo do g7+ durante a Visita Oficial ao Togo".
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  62. "India announces decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Timor Leste".
  63. (2023-09-07). "'Act East in Action - Delhi to Dili': Modi Announces New Indian Embassy in Timor-Leste".
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  68. link. (20 June 2018 , Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, 9 November 2012 (in Albanian))
  69. [http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8171165751_9692eae762_b.jpg Note verbale] {{Webarchive. link. (17 December 2019 , Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 20 September 2012)
  70. "Today, the Republic of Kosova and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.".
  71. "STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR HUSSEIN HANIFF, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE SITUATION IN TIMOR-LESTE, NEW YORK, 22 FEBRUARY 2012". [[United Nations]].
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  75. "Official Website of Embassy of Malaysia, Dili". [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia]].
  76. "Embassy of East Timor in the United States".
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  79. (5 July 2002). "Primeira embaixada de Timor-Leste abre hoje em Lisboa".
  80. "Voice of Russia".
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  82. "Archived copy".
  83. "Archived copy".
  84. (5 January 2011). "The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste set up an embassy in Singapore on 1 December 2010".
  85. "Singapore to set up embassy in Timor-Leste capital Dili".
  86. (24 July 2023). "Singapore to set up first embassy in Timor-Leste's capital city of Dili".
  87. José Belarmino De Sá. (9 August 2023). "South Korean Embassy and MTTI discuss the transformation of Ataúru to Jeju Island". Tatoli.
  88. "Relations between Turkey and East Timor / Rep. Of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
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  90. "British Embassy Timor Leste".
  91. Trevelyan, Anne-Marie. (29 February 2024). "UK to increase maritime security links in Southeast Asia, reopen diplomatic mission in Timor-Leste".
  92. (9 April 2024). "UK supports Timor-Leste's Accession into ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)".
  93. "- Home Page".
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  95. "East Timor Needs Five Years to Join ASEAN: PM".
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  97. "The Manila Times Internet Edition | OPINION > France and East Timor sign Asean's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation".
  98. (2025-10-26). "Forging a New Era: Timor-Leste Admitted into ASEAN".
  99. Azhar, Danial. (2025-10-26). "East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, becomes ASEAN's 11th member".
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