Report by Zevonia Vieira
Donna Ann Welton, the new U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste, formally presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, officially commencing her diplomatic mission.
Regarding to the press release that Neon Metin access inform that President Ramos-Horta and Ambassador Welton discussed topics of mutual interest to the two nations, including regional security, economic development, education, agricultural development, and environmental sustainability.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Welton said, “It is now my sincere honor and responsibility to formally represent the United States of America – its people, President Biden, and our government – as U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste. I am eager to start my work in earnest as the United States continues to strengthen our bilateral relationship. The United States is proud to provide support to Timor-Leste through our agencies and programs here across many vital sectors. As Ambassador, I am committed to leading the U.S. Mission here as we continue to partner robustly with Timor-Leste to promote our shared democratic values and vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Both the Ambassador and President Ramos-Horta expressed enthusiasm for the future of U.S.-Timor-Leste relations and their readiness to work together towards common goals.
Ambassador Welton has had a distinguished career in diplomacy since 1984. Her positions overseas have included Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’Affaires in Helsinki, Assistant Chief of Mission in Kabul, Cultural Affairs Officer and Minister Counselor for Political Affairs in Tokyo, Consul General in Sapporo, and Cultural Affairs Officer in Jakarta. Domestically, she has served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs and Operations in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and as Assistant Communications Director at USUN. Ambassador Welton speaks fluent Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, German, some Dari, and Finnish, and she has begun Tetun studies.
