| Timor-Leste Defence Force | |
|---|---|
| Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste | |
 F-FDTL flag | |
 F-FDTL emblem | |
| Motto | Pátria povo |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Service branches | Timor-Leste Army Timor-Leste Naval Component Timor-Leste Air Component |
| Headquarters | Dili |
| Leadership | |
| President | Jose Ramos-Horta |
| Minister for Defence | Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus |
| Chief of Defence Force | Lieutenant general Falur Rate Laek |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Available for military service | 299,008 males, age 16–49 (2010 est), 286,465 females, age 16–49 (2010 est) |
| Fit for military service | 236,996 males, age 16–49 (2010 est), 245,033 females, age 16–49 (2010 est) |
| Reaching military age annually | 12,795 males (2010 est), 12,443 females (2010 est) |
| Active personnel | 2,280 (IISS, 2020)[1] |
| Reserve personnel | None |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $31.1 million USD (2019)[1] |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | None |
| Foreign suppliers | Donations from foreign governments, mostly |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of East Timor |
The Timor Leste Defence Force (Tetum: Forcas Defesa Timor Lorosae, Portuguese: Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste or Falintil-FDTL, often F-FDTL) is the military of East Timor. The F-FDTL was established in February 2001 and comprises two infantry battalions, small naval and air components and several supporting units.
The F-FDTL's primary role is to protect East Timor from external threats. It also has an internal security role, which overlaps with that of the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL). This overlap has led to tensions between the services, which have been exacerbated by poor morale and lack of discipline within the F-FDTL.
The F-FDTL's problems came to a head in 2006 when almost half the force was dismissed following protests over discrimination and poor conditions. The dismissal contributed to a general collapse of both the F-FDTL and PNTL in May and forced the government to request foreign peacekeepers to restore security. The F-FDTL is currently being rebuilt with foreign assistance and has drawn up a long-term force development plan.
- ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies 2020, p. 317.