Timor-Leste: From INTERFET to ASEAN

Abstract

At varying levels of intensity, Timor-Leste has repeatedly been a focus of the Indonesia-Australia relationship since the early 1970s. While other Western governments were supportive of Indonesia’s forced annexation of Portuguese Timor during the Cold War, Australia was the only country to offer de jure recognition of Indonesia’s occupation. Yet by 1999, bilateral tensions were at an historic peak as Australian-led peacekeeping forces entered Timor-Leste in the wake of a UN-backed referendum, which saw 78.5 percent vote for independence. Fifteen years later, relations with its two giant neighbors remain the focus of Timor-Leste’s foreign policy orientation: Indonesia is its largest trading partner, and Australia remains its largest bilateral aid donor.