Portugal and Timor-Leste sign the Strategic Cooperation Program on Tuesday, amounting to 70 million euros. The designated (PEC) 2018-2022 will be signed in Lisbon by the heads of diplomacies of the two countries. In Portugal, the former President of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmão, said that last night, in statements to Antena 1 journalist Carolina Soares, he was satisfied with the agreement and expressed the idea that cooperation should be intensified. In another context, the Timorese leader also recalled that the governments of Timor and Australia want to conclude ratification of the maritime boundary treaty by August 30, when 20 years of the independence referendum. The former leader of the Timorese resistance who was president and prime minister of East Timor considers it important to delimit the borders with Australia in the rich sea of Timor and hence the need to ratify the Permanent Treaty of Maritime Borders between the two countries on August 30.
A Historic Partnership
The relationship between Portugal and Timor-Leste runs deep. Portugal administered the territory for centuries before Indonesia’s 1975 invasion, and the Portuguese language remains one of Timor-Leste’s two official languages today. Following independence in 2002, Portugal has been one of the most active bilateral partners, supporting institution-building, education, and public administration reform.
The €70 million Strategic Cooperation Program for 2018–2022 continues that tradition, channelling funding into areas such as justice, health, agriculture, and capacity development for Timorese civil servants. Both governments view the program as a long-term investment in Timor-Leste’s stability and economic self-sufficiency.
Maritime Borders and Regional Stability
Alongside the Portuguese partnership, Timor-Leste has been working to secure its maritime boundaries with Australia. The Timor Sea is rich in oil and gas reserves, and a permanent, ratified border treaty is seen as essential for attracting foreign investment and for planning the country’s long-term revenue future. Xanana Gusmão expressed hope that the ratification process would be completed by 30 August 2019, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the historic independence referendum — a symbolic milestone for the Timorese people.