Washington DC, 17 September 2022 (TDI): US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman met with the Foreign Minister of Timor Leste, Adaljza Magno.
Both the dignitaries emphasized the significance of the relationship between the two states which is founded on shared democratic ideals.
Had a wonderful discussion with Foreign Minister @AdaljizaM. We are proud to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste. We look forward to growing our enduring partnership, which is rooted in shared democratic values. https://t.co/fWSerTBu6w pic.twitter.com/YKOM1Mhsf3
— Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) September 17, 2022
Both sides underscored that 2022 will mark 20 years of the bilateral relationship. To highlight the importance of relations, they also discussed recent milestones.
Recent milestones include the signing of reciprocal lease agreements in August that will provide new embassies for each country.
Furthermore, both states also signed the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, which will advance health and education projects in Timor-Leste.
The US Deputy Secretary emphasized the growing political, economic, and humanitarian problems in Burma. Se also talked about attempts to hold the Burma regime accountable for its Five-Point Consensus obligations.
US and Timor Leste Diplomatic Relations
The United States established diplomatic relations with Timor Leste following its independence on May 20, 2002. Since its independence, the country has made significant strides in bolstering its democratic institutions.
It continues to face the challenge of constructing a thriving, diverse economy due to the backdrop of institutions that are still in the process of growing and limited human capital.
Also read: Timor-Leste and UN initiatives at COP26
The United States is dedicated to strengthening and expanding its alliance with Timor-Leste. The alliance is founded on common interests and values between both states.
The United States has a substantial bilateral development assistance program. It is also a key donor to several multilateral agencies engaged in the country. The agencies include the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank.
U.S. assistance focuses on bolstering stability by strengthening the foundations of good governance and accelerating economic growth in order to create jobs for the rapidly expanding population.
The US is also engaged in improving the health of the Timorese people, and supporting the professionalization of Timorese security forces.
