Relationship dossier
Myanmar
Timor-Leste
Relationship assessment
ASEAN engagement strained by Timor-Leste’s contact with Myanmar’s opposition after the 2021 coup
Myanmar toward Timor-Leste
-20Myanmar’s authorities protested Timor-Leste’s engagement with representatives of Myanmar’s National Unity Government and ordered a Timor-Leste diplomat to leave in 2023, creating a concrete diplomatic dispute.
Timor-Leste toward Myanmar
-20Timor-Leste’s government engaged with representatives of Myanmar’s National Unity Government after the 2021 coup, drawing a protest from Myanmar’s authorities. Timor-Leste has also pursued Myanmar-related diplomacy through ASEAN.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship combines ASEAN engagement with a significant dispute over the legitimacy of Myanmar’s post-coup authorities. Timor-Leste’s contact with the National Unity Government and Myanmar’s response have shaped bilateral ties, while the broader level of direct cooperation is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Myanmar and Timor-Leste have had diplomatic engagement as ASEAN members, but relations became strained over Timor-Leste’s contact with Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government after the 2021 coup. Myanmar’s authorities protested that engagement and ordered a Timor-Leste diplomat to leave in 2023. Timor-Leste’s approach has emphasized engagement with opposition representatives and ASEAN efforts concerning Myanmar, rather than alignment with the military authorities.
Areas of tension
- Timor-Leste’s engagement with Myanmar’s National Unity Government and Myanmar’s resulting diplomatic protest and expulsion of a Timor-Leste diplomat in 2023.
Key developments
Myanmar’s authorities ordered a Timor-Leste diplomat to leave after objecting to Timor-Leste’s engagement with the National Unity Government.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of routine bilateral government cooperation is unclear.
- The implementation and current status of ASEAN’s Myanmar policy are uncertain.