East Timor is also known as Timor-Leste, formally called the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, an island country in Southeast Asia. It consists of the eastern half of the island of Timor, the close-by islands of Atauro and Jaco, as well as Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island surrounded by Indonesian West Timor. Australia is the country’s southern neighbor, divided by the Timor Sea. The country’s dimension is 15,007 square kilometres (5,794 sq mi). Dili is its funding.

East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century as well as was referred to as Portuguese Timor up until 28 November 1975, when the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) stated the territory’s independence. Nine days later on, it was attacked and inhabited by the Indonesian military; it was stated Indonesia’s 27th province the following year. The Indonesian occupation of East Timor was qualified by a violent, decades-long conflict in between separatist teams (specifically Fretilin) and also the Indonesian military.

In 1999, complying with the United Nations-sponsored act of self-reliance, Indonesia relinquished control of the area. As Timor-Leste, it became the very first brand-new sovereign state of the 21st century on 20 May 2002 as well as joined the United Nations and also the Area of Portuguese Language Countries.

In 2011, East Timor introduced its purpose to end up being the eleventh participant of the Organization of Southeast Oriental Nations (ASEAN). It as well as the Philippines are the only two mainly Catholic countries in Southeast Asia. East Timor is the only nation in Asia to be located completely in the Southern Hemisphere.