Government of Timor-Leste

On June 4^th, 2026, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão welcomed Michael George DeSombre, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, to the Government Palace in Dili for a meeting to strengthen bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries. 

Michael George DeSombre’s visit to Timor-Leste took place on June 4^th and 5^th, 2026, with the aim of reaffirming the partnership between the United States and Timor-Leste, particularly in the context of shared regional and global priorities.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, accompanied the Prime Minister to the meeting, where issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed, with a particular focus on strengthening peace, stability, and prosperity at the regional and global levels.

During his visit to Timor-Leste, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State also met the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, to discuss bilateral cooperation programmes, the regional situation, and Timor-Leste’s participation in regional and international forums.

The visit, coinciding with the United States' 250th anniversary of independence, celebrated on July 4^th, highlighted the values shared by the two countries—freedom, democracy, sovereignty, and self-determination—that underpin diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and the United States.

Michael George DeSombre assumed his duties as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific in October 2025. Previously, he worked in the private sector and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand from 2020 to 2021. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in Asia.

Michael George DeSombre’s visit reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s and the United States’ commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.