Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is an example to be followed by other States, as it has adhered to all of the seven key treaties in the legal architecture on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | Yes (Ratified 2022) | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 2003) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2022) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | No | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2024) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2024) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 2003) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Acceded 2003) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| Test | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | Yes |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes (observer) |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | 4 (11%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | No |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | Yes (Revised) |
Latest developments
At the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in March 2025, Timor-Leste said that the Treaty ‘embodies the international community’s collective aspiration for a world free from nuclear threats’ and reinforces global peace and security. ‘State Parties must remain steadfast in their commitment to the TPNW’s objectives,’ it said. ‘This Treaty must continue to evolve as a cornerstone of international peace and security frameworks.’1
At a high-level event on 26 September 2025 marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Timor-Leste said that it stands firmly in support of the TPNW. ‘This Treaty is not just another document; it is a vital part of the global push for disarmament,’ it said. ‘Disarmament is not just a legal obligation; it is a moral duty.’2
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2025, Timor-Leste said that, as ‘a nation founded upon the principles of peace, sovereignty, and international solidarity, and shaped by the lived experience of conflict and reconciliation’, it ‘remains deeply committed to the global elimination of nuclear weapons and the strengthening of multilateral disarmament frameworks’. It reaffirmed its full commitment to the TPNW’s implementation and active participation in its meetings.3
Timor-Leste co-sponsored the 2025 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which welcomed the Treaty’s entry into force and called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve, or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date’.4
In accordance with Article 3 of the TPNW, Timor-Leste brought into force a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 25 September 2024. At the same time, it also brought into force an Additional Protocol (AP).5
Recommendations
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Timor-Leste should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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Timor-Leste should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.