The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
On August 3, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste about a range of shared priorities and continued cooperation between the two countries. The Administrator and the President spoke about the importance of democratic governance and press freedom in Timor-Leste. They also discussed regional security and the importance of standing up for human rights across Southeast Asia. The two discussed the global food crisis resulting from Putin’s war against Ukraine and ways in which USAID can support agriculture and food resilience in the country along with other priorities for economic and social development.