DILI, 30 May 2025 (TATOLI) – At the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue Asia Security Summit, President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta addressed young leaders at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue’s Young Leaders’ Presidential Roundtable, highlighting how strategic partnerships have transformed Timor-Leste from a newly independent nation into a stable contributor to regional security.
Speaking about Timor-Leste’s journey since independence, Horta emphasized that Timor-Leste has achieved remarkable stability with “zero political violence, zero ethnic-based tensions, and zero organized crime” through carefully cultivated international partnerships. The President detailed how educational and healthcare partnerships have yielded dramatic results, growing from one PhD holder at independence to over 100 today, and from very few doctors to 1,400 medical professionals trained through international cooperation.
Addressing current regional challenges, particularly the Myanmar crisis, Horta advocated for sustained diplomatic engagement despite apparent setbacks. President stressed the importance of “inclusive dialogue with no preconditions” and emphasized that peace processes require more complex work than conducting wars. Drawing from his experience as an international mediator, including his role in Colombia, Ramos-Horta noted that “sometimes war is the easier path but the consequences of peace are more difficult.”
The President also highlighted Timor-Leste’s economic partnerships as integral to its security strategy, citing successful gas extraction projects with Australia and diversified sovereign fund investments that have generated $10 billion in returns over the past decade. With foreign debt below 30% of GDP and investments spread across US Treasury bonds and international equity markets.
Horta demonstrated how small nations can leverage strategic economic partnerships to enhance both prosperity and security.
President Horta concluded by emphasizing that regional security architecture requires patience, sustained engagement, and the willingness to maintain dialogue even when immediate results are not visible.
TATOLI
