Editing Timor-Leste Defence Force (section)

{{Short description|Combined military forces of Timor-Leste}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox national military
| name               = Timor-Leste Defence Force
| native_name        = {{lang|pt|Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste}}
| image              = Flag of F-FDTL.png
| alt                = 
| caption            = F-FDTL flag
| image2             = Roundel of East Timor.svg
| alt2               = 
| caption2           = F-FDTL emblem
| motto              = {{lang|pt|Pátria povo}}
| founded            = 2001
| current_form       = 
| disbanded          = 
| branches           = Timor-Leste Army<br />Timor-Leste Naval Component<br />Timor-Leste Air Component
| headquarters       = [[Dili]]
| website            = <!--{{URL|example.mil}}-->
<!-- Leadership -->
| commander-in-chief = [[Jose Ramos-Horta]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[President of Timor-Leste|President]]
| chief minister     = 
| chief minister_title = [[Prime Minister of Timor-Leste|Prime Minister]]
| minister           = [[Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus]]
| minister_title     = [[Minister of Defense (Timor-Leste)|Minister for Defence]]
| commander          = Lieutenant general [[:id:Falur Rate Laek|Falur Rate Laek]]
| commander_title    = [[Chief of Defence Force (Timor-Leste)|Chief of Defence Force]]
<!-- Manpower -->
| age                = 18
| conscription       = 
| manpower_data      = 2010 est
| manpower_age       = 16–49
| available          = 299,008
| available_f        = 286,465
| fit                = 236,996
| fit_f              = 245,033
| reaching           = 12,795
| reaching_f         = 12,443
| active             = 2,280 ([[IISS]], 2020){{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2020|p=317}}
| ranked             = 
| reserve            = None
| deployed           = 
<!-- Financial -->
| amount             = $31.1&nbsp;million [[USD]] (2019){{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2020|p=317}}
| percent_GDP        = 
<!-- Industrial -->
| domestic_suppliers = None
| foreign_suppliers  = Donations from foreign governments, mostly {{ubl|{{flag|Australia}}|{{flag|Brazil}}|{{flag|China}}|{{flag|Indonesia}}|{{flag|Malaysia}}|{{flag|Philippines}}|{{flag|Portugal}}|{{flag|Russia}}|{{flag|United States}}}}
| imports            = 
| exports            = 
<!-- Related articles -->
| history            = 
| ranks              = [[Military ranks of Timor-Leste]]
}}

The '''Timor-Leste Defence Force''' ({{langx|tet|Forcas Defesa Timor Lorosae}}, {{langx|pt|Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste}} or [[Falintil]]-FDTL, often '''F-FDTL''') is the [[military]] of [[Timor-Leste]] (formerly 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 Timor-Leste from external threats. It also has an internal security role, which overlaps with that of the [[National Police of 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.