Headquarters, September 16, 2025

1. Honourable Australian Ambassador,

2. Chief of the Armed Forces, Brigadier Malcolm Wells

3. Commander of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Brigadier General Harris,

4. Australian Defense Attaché in Timor-Leste in Canberra,

5. INTERFET veterans, without a team, Australia gains points faster,

6. Commanders, Officers, NCOs and Ranks of the F-FDTL,

7. Leaders of the Ministry of Defense and all DCP personnel present here,

8. Distinguished, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning, welcome to Timor-Leste! This is a profound and unprecedented honor for the Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2025 initiative, marking the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation and also the 26th anniversary of INTERFET. This solemn moment connects the past to the future, memory to aspiration, legacy to renewal.

Indeed, 26 years ago, in September 1999, due to the referendum that strengthened the Timorese people's resolve to achieve independence, the international community responded to the call for unprotected security. INTERFET, led by Australia under the command of General Peter Cosgrove, represents a decisive moment in the history of Timor-Leste in terms of international solidarity that prevented the transition to freedom in a sovereign state.

INTERFET is not just a military operation; it is an act of faith in the self-determination of the people, a commitment to human dignity, and a demonstration that international cooperation, when guided by just principles, can change the course of history. When it was time to shape a moment in the future, it was time to fund the strategy between Timor-Leste and Australia.

Today, we pay tribute to those who served in INTERFET, including Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, Canada, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Fiji, Great Britain, and many others who answered the call for peace. We also pay tribute to the Timorese resistance fighters who maintained independence for decades and to the civilians who, with extraordinary courage, defended the right to self-determination.

Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2025 continues this legacy, transforming the hope that INTERFET brings into capabilities for a future of sustainable peace and regional cooperation.

The main activities known to take place this year are:

1. INTERFET Sports Competition

2. Fern, Peace, and Security Training Program for women in the F-FDTL, to recognize women's participation in all dimensions of security.

Honor the spiritual dimension. 3. Military Chaplain Exchange, which was crucial during the Timorese resistance.

4. Inclusive Community Engagement Program, which reflects INTERFET's impact at all levels of society.

These programs incorporate three fundamental pillars: cooperation between sovereign partners, respect for diversity, and trust built through concrete actions.

To the veterans of INTERFET, your work has resulted in a free and sovereign Timor-Leste.

For new generations, you are the legacy of a tradition of courage and idealism.

This program is not a stand-alone activity, but a continuation of the historical legacy that has evolved from the initial intervention to independence and now to the consolidation of a mature strategic partnership.

We hope that INTERFET's spirit of courage, solidarity, and activity, inspired by justice, will be filled with great success and positivity in the coming days.

Embassy of Australia, Timor-Leste

Thank you very much.

F-FDTL Media

Nhoy Borges

Izidor Lopes