Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made an official visit to East Timor on Wednesday, meeting senior Timorese political leaders and addressing the nation’s parliament in Dili as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral security and energy cooperation.

This was Mr Albanese’s first visit to the neighbouring nation since taking office.

Mr Albanese met with East Timor’s President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

In his parliamentary address, the Australian prime minister referenced historical military cooperation between the two countries, including joint service during the Second World War, and outlined Australia’s interest in expanding bilateral ties in security, energy and economic cooperation.

The visit coincides with long-standing negotiations on the development of the Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea.

The Greater Sunrise fields, comprising the Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, hold an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 226 million barrels of condensate and are located approximately 140 kilometres south of East Timor’s coast.

The resource has been subject to protracted discussions between Canberra and Dili following resolution of maritime boundary issues under the 2018 treaty establishing permanent maritime boundaries between the two countries.

Technical discussions between Australian and Timorese officials in early January in Darwin addressed implementation of the 2018 Maritime Boundary Treaty and explored aspects of a future development of the Greater Sunrise fields, including legal and regulatory frameworks and the feasibility of processing gas within East Timor.

Both governments have affirmed their intention to work towards a new production sharing contract covering the development of Greater Sunrise.

East Timor’s national oil company Timor GAP holds a 56.56 per cent stake in the Sunrise Joint Venture, with Woodside Energy holding a 33.44 per cent interest and Osaka Gas holding the remaining 10 per cent.

Country leaders have noted that development of the fields, including potential construction of liquefied natural gas infrastructure on East Timor’s south coast, could provide significant employment and revenue opportunities for Timor-Leste’s economy.

In 2024, both governments issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to advancement of the Greater Sunrise project and outlined plans for cooperation on infrastructure and workforce development.

As part of that framework, Australia proposed establishing a dedicated infrastructure fund capitalised from a portion of future project revenues and announced the Timor-Leste-Australia Labour Mobility and Skills Partnership, which aims to support training and employment opportunities for Timorese workers in Australia.

Australia remains a principal security and development partner for East Timor.

Canberra has provided assistance since Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002, including deployment of peacekeeping forces and ongoing aid programs.

The visit by Mr Albanese occurred against the backdrop of broader regional security considerations, including Australia’s engagement with other Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific partners on defence cooperation.

East Timor, with a population of approximately 1.4 million, became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in October 2025.

The government continues to prioritise economic diversification and development, with energy sector projects such as Greater Sunrise seen as central to long-term economic strategy.

The ongoing discussions between Canberra and Dili reflect sustained diplomatic engagement on issues of mutual strategic interest in the region.