“Exercise Lafaek”, organized by FALINTIL – Defence Forces of Timor-Leste and the Naval Component of the Armed Forces of the United States took place between the 9th and the 16th of October 2012 in Dili, Timor-Leste.

The purpose of this military action was the exchange of experiences.

The Chief of the General Staff of the F-FDTL, Lere Anan Timur, highlighted the strengthening of the bilateral relations between these two countries, as a result of this military exercise. “The U.S. Navy served this opportunity to transfer their experience to the F-FDTL, not only at an individual level, but also at a collective one. We exercised the practice of urban combat and deepened the issue of the chain of command. In return, our forces shared issues about the Military Corps Center. This exercise should be repeated next year, “he said.

The U.S. Ambassador Judith Fergin, also stressed the importance of the strengthening of relations between these two countries, adding that the practice of this exercise also contributes to the maintenance of regional security by approaching the military from friendly countries.

“With this exercise, the capacity of the Timorese military have been strengthened relatively to humanitarian assistance, emergency relief during natural disasters and to collective capabilities. This will benefit both Timor-Leste and the countries of the region, since it will allow Timor-Leste to participate in peacekeeping operations “reinforced the Ambassador.

The closing ceremony of the “Exercise Lafaek 2012″ took place in Taci Tolu, Dili, and was attended by the Secretary of State for Defense, Júlio Tomás Pinto, the U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste Judith Fergin, the Chief of the General Staff Armed Forces of Timor-Leste, Lere Anan Timur, the Chief of Staff of F-FDTL, Colonel Falur Rate Laek, and the U.S. Navy Colonel, Scott Campell.