Timor-Leste president hails UAE's global peace and humanitarian efforts at WGS 2026

José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste said his country has excellent relations with all nations, and has no enemies.

During a conversation hosted at the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026, José Ramos-Horta said: “We have the best possible relationship with China, and an excellent relationship with Indonesia. We are members of ASEAN, enjoy strong ties with Japan and South Korea, maintain excellent relations with the United States and the European Union—and we have no enemies.”

Ramos-Horta noted that “the UAE has played a mediating role in resolving several conflicts, including the dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia, in addition to hosting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

He also highlighted the UAE’s significant humanitarian and relief efforts, noting that its contributions to humanitarian and emergency aid rank among the highest globally relative to its gross domestic product.

Reflecting on the events surrounding Timor-Leste’s independence from Indonesia in 2002, following negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, President Ramos-Horta recalled that Indonesia agreed to hold a popular referendum.

“The referendum resulted in an 80 percent vote in favor of independence, and Indonesia respected that outcome,” he said.

“In fact, it went even further—by honouring the result and withdrawing. Instead of seeking to destabilise a new, poor, and fragile state, the opposite occurred. We extended a hand of friendship and reconciliation, which Indonesia accepted. It became a key partner in supporting our country’s stability and prosperity, as well as our accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Indonesia thus set an example of how to respect agreements and international law.”

The World Governments Summit 2026, which was held under the theme “Shaping the Governments of the Future” and concludes today, brings together more than 60 heads of state and government and their deputies, over 500 ministers, representatives of more than 150 governments, more than 80 international and regional organisations, over 700 CEOs, and more than 6,250 participants from around the world.