DILI (TOP) – Australia and Timor-Leste (TL) signed a reciprocal Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) after the President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta made several alerts to the Australian government to help piped the pipe line of oil and gas fields in the Greater Sunrise to south coast of this small country.
During the visit of China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Timor-Leste in early June this year, politicians in Australia were worried about whether Timor-Leste's foreign policy position would lean towards China or the west. China and Timor-Leste have bilateral cooperation in several important areas including the economy, but not defense cooperation.
So far, the cooperation relationship in the defense sector has only been with Australia and several other countries.
The DCA is a status of forces agreement that sets out the reciprocal protections, responsibilities and privileges each country will grant the military personnel of the other in its territory.
The DCA was signed by Defence Ministers following a meeting between Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP and President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste.
The deal was announced as the Timor-Leste president, Jose Ramos-Horta, prepared to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, where he called on Australia to do more to help Timor-Leste’s economy develop.
The new defence cooperation agreement (DCA) sets out the protections afforded to military personnel while they are in each other’s territory, making it easier to conduct joint exercises and training, particularly in the Timor Sea.
It will also allow greater cooperation on humanitarian assistance missions.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese saidAustralia and Timor-Leste share a special relationship as neighbours with a shared history and deep ties.
“We have been working towards a DCA for over a decade and today’s signing is a significant step forward in our partnership."
“I was pleased to meet with President Ramos-Horta to discuss how we can strengthen cooperation, including Australia’s continued support for Timor-Leste’s development."
“I look forward to meeting my counterpart, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, at an early opportunity.”
The Australian defence minister, Richard Marles, said the agreement heralded a “significant step forward in our partnership” and a “new chapter in Australia’s close relationship with Timor-Leste”.
“We are neighbours with a shared maritime domain, namely the Timor Sea,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing how the DCA will help enable joint maritime patrols between Australia and Timor-Leste.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong said, as a close friend and neighbour, Australia is committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s security and sovereignty, including through our enduring defence cooperation.
“Australia welcomes this DCA and the opportunity it provides to deepen our close defence and security partnership with Timor-Leste.”
“This is a key milestone as we continue working together to maintain a stable, prosperous region.”
DCA signed after President Horta made several alerts that Timor-Leste could seek out Chinese financial support if Australia and Woodside Energy fail to back a gas pipeline between the resource-rich Timor Sea and his country’s southern shore, rather than Darwin.
President Ramos-Horta is visiting Australia this week as a Guest of Government, hosted by General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor-General of Australia.
The DCA will allow Australia and Timor-Leste to increase defence and security cooperation, especially in the maritime domain, given our shared border and adjacent maritime zones.
It will enhance our ability to operate together as required, conduct exercises and training, and cooperate on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The Agreement means Timorese military members operating, exercising or training in Australia will receive the same protections, responsibilities and privileges as Australian personnel will receive in Timor-Leste.
During their meeting, Prime Minister Albanese and President Ramos-Horta also discussed common security, economic cooperation, labour mobility and skills, the green economy and Australia’s support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership bid.
