Shangri-La Diplomacy: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta used the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue to push back on “more hardware” thinking, arguing missiles and submarines can’t replace trust-building and prevention, and urging bolder diplomacy to reduce conflict. ASEAN Engagement: Ramos-Horta also met Vietnam’s President Tô Lâm in Singapore, with both sides stressing deeper Timor-Leste–Vietnam cooperation as Timor-Leste settles into ASEAN. Regional Peace Proposal: Ramos-Horta floated a plan for Myanmar talks led by a retired four-star Southeast Asian general, calling for all sides to meet “under a tent” with humanitarian access. Budget and Energy Security: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão presented a proposed amendment to the 2026 General State Budget, including a planned national strategic fuel reserve to cushion Timor-Leste’s vulnerability to global energy shocks. Blue Economy and Development: Timor-Leste hosted a regional forum on youth entrepreneurship and economic cooperation, alongside efforts to advance the Blue Economy and ASEAN integration.