ASEAN-Russia Diplomacy: ASEAN leaders are preparing for a high-level dialogue with President Vladimir Putin at a June summit in Kazan, with East Timor listed among ASEAN members maintaining Russia as a “dialogue partner” despite differing views on Ukraine. Regional Security Forum: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta met Vietnam’s President Tô Lâm in Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, with both sides stressing deeper cooperation after Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership. UN Peacekeeping Spotlight: UN officials marked International Day of UN Peacekeepers with calls to “invest in peace,” highlighting peacekeeping’s role in countries including Timor-Leste. Budget and Energy Resilience: Timor-Leste’s government and parliament began talks on a 2026 budget amendment tied to global instability, including a proposed national strategic fuel reserve. Maritime Cooperation: The U.S.-led Pacific Partnership 2026 humanitarian mission is set to include Timor-Leste among its Indo-Pacific stops, focusing on medical, engineering, and disaster-response support. Education and Health: Timor-Leste received a WHO certificate for malaria elimination, while regional reporting also points to ongoing education and youth initiatives tied to development cooperation.