Timor Leste Defence Force
| Timor-Leste Defence Force Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste |
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|---|---|
F-FDTL coat of arms
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| Founded | 2001 |
| Service branches | Army, naval component |
| Headquarters | Dili |
| Leadership | |
| President | Taur Matan Ruak |
| Minister for Defence and Security | Cirilo José Cristovão |
| Commander, Timor-Leste Defence Force | Major General Lere Anan Timor |
| Manpower | |
| 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 | 1,332 (IISS, 2012) (ranked 156) |
| Reserve personnel | None |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $US19.9 million (2015) |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | None |
| Foreign suppliers | Donations from foreign governments |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of East Timor |
 An East Timorese soldier during fighting in May 2006
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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 body responsible for the defence of East Timor. The F-FDTL was established in February 2001 and comprised two small infantry battalions, a small naval component 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 Policia 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.
The constitution of East Timor assigns the F-FDTL responsibility for protecting East Timor against external attack. The constitution states that the F-FDTL "shall guarantee national independence, territorial integrity and the freedom and security of the populations against any aggression or external threat, in respect for the constitutional order." The constitution also states that the F-FDTL "shall be non-partisan and shall owe obedience to the competent organs of sovereignty in accordance with the Constitution and the laws, and shall not intervene in political matters." The National Police of East Timor (or PNTL) and other civilian security forces are assigned responsibility for internal security. In practice the responsibilities of the F-FDTL and PNTL were not clearly delineated, and this led to conflict between the two organisations.
The East Timorese Government has broadened the F-FDTL's role over time. As what have been designated "new missions", the F-FDTL has been given responsibility for crisis management, supporting the suppression of civil disorder, responding to humanitarian crises and facilitating co-operation between different parts of the government.
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