DÍLI, 23 July 2026 (TATOLI) – Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, accompanied by Milena Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, participated in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Manila, Philippines.
The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers and representatives of ARF Participants to exchange views on regional and international developments and discuss ways to further strengthen the Forum as a key platform for dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues.
During the discussions, participants reaffirmed their strong support for ASEAN Centrality and underscored the importance of maintaining the ARF as a relevant, inclusive, and responsive mechanism for promoting confidence-building, preventive diplomacy, and practical cooperation in addressing shared regional and global security challenges.
Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to contributing constructively to regional peace, stability, and cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
TATOLI
