Royal Australian Navy’s battle tanker HMAS Success has recently welcomed aboard the vice chief of the Timor-Leste Defence Force during a visit to the nation’s capital, Dili.
Commanding Officer of Success, Commander Michael Letts, showed Brigadier General Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus around the warship before hosting a luncheon onboard.
Commander Letts said Navy maintained a strong partnership with the people and the defence force of Timor-Leste and the visit had strengthened those bonds.
“I was pleased and humbled to host Brigadier General Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus and his staff for a ship tour and luncheon. It was also encouraging to see ship’s company conduct tours for members of the Timor-Leste Defence Force,” Commander Letts said.
Success left Australia last month to begin a two-month deployment to South East Asia.
Two officers from the Timorese Navy joined the vessel in Darwin for the sail to Dili to learn more about the Royal Australian Navy and its capabilities.
Second Lieutenant Helder Pinto spent time working with ship’s logistics department while Aspirante Francisco Gaspar worked on the bridge.
The Australian Defence Force has strong links with its Timor-Leste counterparts.
Australia led an International Stabilisation Force into Timor-Leste after Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999. The ADF again supported stabilisation operations in Timor-Leste in 2006.
Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program with Timor-Leste has been in place since 2001, with 24 staff in country, including two naval advisors. The Australian program of maritime security engagement with Timor-Leste includes training in seamanship and maritime engineering, and capability upgrades to the Timor-Leste Defence Force naval base at Hera. Timorese naval personnel are also involved in Royal Australian Navy exercises Kakadu and Paradise.