Australia vows to stay the course

Australian troops lead the UN peacekeeping force into East Timor

CANBERRA, Australia (CNN) -- After years of wavering support, East Timor's southern neighbor Australia is becoming increasingly committed to bolstering the fledging nation's security and stability.

While no specific additional funding was allocated to East Timor in the latest national budget, monies were "rephased" from Australia's general defense spending to support an increase in global peacekeeping duties.

Australia has 1,500 peacekeepers currently serving in East Timor, and has spent more than $750 million (Aust. $1.4 billion) on military operations there since 1999 when it led a United Nations force to the region to help restore order.

Prime Minister John Howard, who will attends the independence ceremony and swearing-in of the first government, has been at pains to urge other nations to also "stay the course" with East Timor.

East Timor will ... need more than the help and goodwill of its nearest neighbors," he said earlier this year.

"There also needs to be an assurance of solidarity from the United Nations' system.

"We should not undo the good work already done by skimping on resources. Australia will stay the course. It is critical that the United Nations stay the course," he said.

Australia sees the role of its troops in East Timor as one which maintains peace and security which will allow the citizens of East Timor to rebuild their country.

The motives, however, are not entirely altruistic.

In the post-September 11 climate, Australia would not welcome a politically and socially unstable neighbor so close to its northern borders -- particularly given its high-profile support for the U.S.-led war against terror.

Maintaining trouble-free access to the mineral-rich waters of the Timor Sea which separates the two nations is also important for Australia.

Tempestuous relationship

Australia has not always, however, shown such support for the cause of East Timorese independence.

Since the mid-1970s relations with the former Portuguese colony have been inextricably linked to the waxing and waning of Australia's tempestuous political and economic relationship with Indonesia.

Back in 1974, for example, the Labor government of Gough Whitlam virtually assured the Indonesian annexation of the region by indicating to Indonesia's Suharto administration that it would not oppose such an action.

And it was not until Indonesian-army backed militias began their reign of terror following the independence vote in 1999, and the United Nations Security Council felt obliged to intervene, that Australia began to reassess its role in the territory's affairs.

Australia then pushed for, and was granted, the right to lead the multinational force sent to East Timor to restore peace and security.