Government of Timor-Leste

Following his participation in the United Nations Security Council and the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, made an official visit to Brussels, Belgium, from June 22^nd to 26^th 2025, with the aim of strengthening Timor-Leste's bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Belgium and deepening cooperation with the institutions of the European Union. 

The visit began with a visit to the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Brussels on June 23^rd, where the Minister was received by Ambassador Jorge Camões and the United Nations Country Director, Samuel Soares. During this meeting, topics related to the diplomatic mission and bilateral cooperation with Belgium and the European Union were discussed. Ambassador Jorge Camões' mandate will end on July 17^th, and he will be replaced on an interim basis by the Third Secretary, Adriana Martins, as Chargé d'Affaires until a new head of mission is appointed. 

On June 24^th, Minister Bendito Freitas met with the Secretary General of the Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Theodora Gentzis. The meeting reaffirmed the democratic values and principles shared between the two countries and identified new areas for cooperation, particularly in the fields of the blue and green economy. The Belgian official welcomed Timor-Leste's rapprochement with ASEAN, whose full membership is scheduled for October this year and expressed Belgium's support for the post-accession process to the World Trade Organization. The Timorese Minister congratulated Belgium on the recent ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), emphasizing the convergence of priorities between the two countries. 

On the same day, Bendito dos Santos Freitas met with the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela. The meeting took place at the European Commission's headquarters and allowed for discussions on strengthening relations between Timor-Leste and the European Union, namely through the Samoa Agreement and partnerships within the PALOP-TL regional initiative. Commissioner Síkela assured that the restructuring of the EU representation in Dili would not affect the current level of cooperation. 

The Minister also held his first official meeting with the Regional Government of Flanders, represented by Sam Vandenabeele, Director of the External Relations Department. The meeting, held at the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Brussels, opened new prospects for cooperation in the areas of port management, technical training and professional exchange between the Port of Antwerp and the Port of Dili. Director Vandenabeele underlined the potential for collaboration through the Port of Antwerp Training Centre (APEC), which has been active for more than three decades in international training in the port sector. 

On June 25^th, the Minister met with the Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Belén Martínez Carbonell. The meeting focused on consolidating the partnership between Timor-Leste and the European Union and preparing for membership of ASEAN and the World Trade Organization. Both sides emphasized the importance of sharing democratic values, respect for human rights and support for multilateralism. Belén Carbonell confirmed the appointment of Thorsten Bargfrede as the new Head of the EU Delegation in Dili and reported on the reduction of the delegation's team, ensuring that this would not affect engagement and cooperation with Timor-Leste. 

On the same day, Minister Bendito Freitas visited the European Parliament, where he met with MEP Francisco Assis, from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats parliamentary group, in his capacity as President of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OEACP-EU Partnership (DACP). The MEP congratulated Timor-Leste on the ratification of the Samoa Agreement and on its election as Vice-President of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing the country's strategic role in the region. Both discussed the preparations for the visit of a DACP parliamentary delegation to Timor-Leste, scheduled for September, with meetings planned with representatives of the state, civil society, academia and the media. 

At the end of the official mission, on June 26^th, at Brussels International Airport, Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas met informally with his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, who was returning from the Netherlands after attending the NATO Summit. END