HomeCountries & Areas…Timor-Leste hide Timor-Leste Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Learn More U.S. Relationship These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Timor-Leste U.S.-Timor-Leste Relations U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste Bilateral Economic Relations U.S.-Timor-Leste Relations Timor-Leste became an independent nation in 2002, following over four hundred years of Portuguese colonization, twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. The U.S. and Timor-Leste enjoy excellent bilateral relations based Timor-Leste became an independent nation in 2002, following over four hundred years of Portuguese colonization, twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. The U.S. and Timor-Leste enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on shared interests and values, and the U.S. is committed to strengthening and deepening this partnership. Collapse U.S.-Timor-Leste Relations Read more about U.S.-Timor-Leste Relations U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste The U.S. has a significant bilateral development assistance program and is also a major donor member to a number of multilateral agencies active in Timor-Leste such as the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. U.S. development assistance is delivered through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) governance, health, and agricultural programs, year-round rotations of U.S. Navy Seabees, and The U.S. has a significant bilateral development assistance program and is also a major donor member to a number of multilateral agencies active in Timor-Leste such as the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. U.S. development assistance is delivered through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) governance, health, and agricultural programs, year-round rotations of U.S. Navy Seabees, and a growing Peace Corps program. In December 2017, the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Timor-Leste for compact development and aims to partner with the Timorese government to reduce key drivers of poverty and promote economic growth. U.S. assistance focuses on bolstering stability by strengthening the foundations of good governance, improving the health of the Timorese people, supporting the professionalization of the Timorese security forces, and creating jobs for the rapidly growing and youthful population by accelerating economic growth. Collapse U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste Read more about U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste Bilateral Economic Relations Timor-Leste remains one of the least developed countries in the world and there is little direct trade with the U.S. The economy is dependent on government spending (financed by petroleum revenues) and, to a lesser extent, assistance from international donors including the U.S. Private sector development has lagged due to human capital shortages, infrastructure weakness, an incomplete legal Timor-Leste remains one of the least developed countries in the world and there is little direct trade with the U.S. The economy is dependent on government spending (financed by petroleum revenues) and, to a lesser extent, assistance from international donors including the U.S. Private sector development has lagged due to human capital shortages, infrastructure weakness, an incomplete legal system, and an inefficient regulatory environment. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Government of Timor-Leste have signed an Investment Incentive Agreement. The major U.S. investor in Timor-Leste is ConocoPhillips; its Bayu-Undan gas condensate development is located in the Timor Sea joint petroleum development area between Timor-Leste and Australia. The second largest export is coffee, which generates between $15 and $30 million a year. Starbucks Coffee Company is a major purchaser of Timorese coffee. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations Integrated Country Strategies The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Investment Climate Statements The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates. View Investment Climate Statements Fiscal Transparency Report The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability. View Fiscal Transparency Report Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries ince October, 2021 the United States has donated 201,240 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Timor-Leste. This includes 201,240 Pfizer doses. Of the 201,240 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future. Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery. More Vaccine Deliveries Highlights December 7, 2023 Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Anti-Corruption Champions Award Ceremony December 7, 2023 Recognizing the 2023 Anti-Corruption Champions November 6, 2023 Dili, Timor-Leste: QSI International School of Dili: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet October 25, 2023 One New Assisted School in 2023-2024 August 24, 2023 Dili, Timor-Leste: QSI International School of Dili: Spring 2023 Special Needs Profile VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Timor-Leste