East Timor And Australia Reaffirm Commitment To Combating Illegal Fishing

DILI, 20 October 2026 — Eas Timor  and Australia continue to strengthen their bilateral cooperation, particularly in maritime border security and efforts to combat illegal activities at sea, including illegal fishing, which threatens marine resources and affects national economies.

The commitment was reaffirmed during a meeting between Eas Timor Prime Minister  Xanana Gusmão and Australian Maritime Border Command Commander Rear Admiral Brett Stoner at the Government Palace in Dili on Tuesday (20 October, 2026).

Following the meeting, Rear Admiral Stoner expressed his appreciation to the Government of East Timor, particularly the Prime Minister, for the opportunity to meet and discuss cooperation between the two countries.

“It is a great honour and privilege to be back in East Timor. East Timor is a strong partner of Australia in our shared efforts to combat illegal activities and transnational crime. I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to meet during my visit to East Timor,” Stoner told journalists.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed the progress of the partnership agreement signed by the two countries in 2025 and identified priority areas for future joint cooperation.

Stoner explained that EasTimor and Australia share common interests in strengthening maritime border security, as illegal activities at sea can have significant consequences for the economy and the management of marine resources.

“EasTimor and Australia are very strong partners when it comes to maritime borders. During this meeting, we also discussed ways to combat illegal fishing in the waters of East Timor and Australia. Australia considers these illegal activities a significant threat because they affect our national economy. That is why we are working together to combat them,” he emphasised.

Cooperation in maritime border security is important for strengthening both countries’ capacity to prevent and combat transnational crime, including illegal fishing, while ensuring that marine resources are managed responsibly and sustainably.

The meeting also reflects the continued partnership between East Timor and Australia, particularly in maritime security and joint efforts to address challenges affecting the shared interests of both nations.

The Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, also accompanied the Prime Minister during the meeting.