Singapore and Timor-Leste are set to deepen their relations as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong makes an official two-day visit to Dili. The trip marks a significant milestone, as it is the first visit by any Singapore prime minister to the country, underscoring the growing importance both sides place on the relationship.
The visit reciprocates the official trip that Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao made to Singapore in July last year. During his time in Dili, Wong is due to be received at an official welcome ceremony at the presidential palace, before calling on President Jose Ramos-Horta and meeting Prime Minister Gusmao.
As part of the programme, Wong is expected to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish bilateral consultations between the two countries, followed by a joint media conference. The Singapore leader is also set to be conferred the Order of Timor-Leste, an award recognising Singapore's contributions to one of Southeast Asia's newest independent states.
Ties between the two nations stretch back to before Timor-Leste's independence in 2002. In 1999, Singapore was among the first countries to contribute to the International Force East Timor, a multinational peacekeeping mission, with more than a thousand Singapore military personnel deployed over the years, along with landing ship tanks and helicopters.
More recently, Singapore has stepped up its diplomatic presence, opening a resident embassy in Dili in 2024 and appointing its first resident ambassador to Timor-Leste in April this year. These moves reflect a broader effort to place the relationship on a more institutional footing.
While economic ties remain modest, they continue to grow. Total trade stood at about 72.6 million Singapore dollars in 2025, with Singapore companies active mainly in oil and gas and wholesale trade, and some exploring marine and offshore opportunities in the country.
Development cooperation has also been a key strand of the relationship. More than 1,300 Timor-Leste officials have attended Singapore courses in areas such as finance, public administration and communication, while Singapore has rolled out support packages to help Timor-Leste participate more effectively in ASEAN, whose membership the young nation is working to consolidate.