After the referendum on independence on 30 August 1999, East Timor became an independent nation on 20 May 2002 and began initiating foreign relations with the rest of the global community.
Relations with specific countries and regions
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
East Timor is the only country in Southeast Asia neither a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nor holding observer status in the group.
However, East Timor has expressed its intention of gaining observer status to ASEAN in July 2002 and in 2006 it was considered six years to join.http://www.aseansec.org/afp/154.htm However, East Timor has attended many meetings of ASEAN regardless.
In 2007 East Timor signed the ASEAN Treaty on Amity and Co-operation.
East Timor is a potential member of the East Asia Summit.
Bilateral relations
Participation in international organisations
The country is an observer of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Alliance; and member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations (UN), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
Although East Timor is not situated in the Pacific Ocean and not geographically part of Oceania, it also holds observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum, but does not seek full member status nor associate member status within the organisation, as it wishes to become a full member of the ASEAN.
International disputes
East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets to survey and delimit land boundary; Indonesia seeks resolution of East Timorese refugees in Indonesia; Australia, East Timor, and Indonesia are working to resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in the Timor Gap.
See also
Foreign Aid to Timor Leste
List of diplomatic missions in East Timor
List of diplomatic missions of East Timor
Literature
References
External links
East Timor Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Australian Embassy in East Timor
Embassy of Brazil in Dili
de:Osttimor#Außenpolitik
