ADF: current operations in Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Introduction
The Australian government has maintained military and police deployments in Timor-Leste (East Timor) since 1999, but Australia’s operations in Timor have involved two key phases. The INTERFET intervention (1999-2000) was the largest deployment of its type and was slowly integrated into UN missions in subsequent years.
The deployment of troops under Operation Citadel (2000 – 2004) saw a gradual reduction of numbers with the Australian deployment slowly winding down, when a crisis erupted in April – May 2006 and more troops were deployed.
Since May 2006, there have been six Australian Defence Force (ADF) ANZAC Battle Groups rotated through Timor, and a range of Australian Federal Police (AFP) and UN training and liaison programs, under the following operations:
The current deployment of an ANZAC Battle Group.
The ADF also provides support to the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) through a separate operation, currently dubbed Operation Tower
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) deployment in Timor-Leste, involving training, operations and participation in the UN Police program is called Operation Serene.
The ADF maintains a Defence Co-operation Program with the government of Timor-Leste.
Updated 24 August 2009