This study aims to understand how Indonesia’s public diplomacy strategy was implemented toward the people of Timor-Leste during the 2019–2024 period. The study is analyzed using a qualitative descriptive method; the research is examined using Nicholas J. Cull's five components of public diplomacy: advocacy, listening, cultural diplomacy, exchange diplomacy, and international broadcasting. The data was collected through a document study and interviews with Indonesian diplomats and a figure from Timor-Leste. The result of the study finds that the Indonesian public diplomacy implementation is adaptive and layered: the Indonesian government favored a strategy of language and regional cooperation diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges. However, certain elements, such as international broadcasting, have not yet been used strategically to deliver focused diplomatic messages. In addition, advocacy efforts are still mostly carried out at the government level and do not fully involve the local community. This study highlights the importance of two-way communication and participatory mechanisms to build a more inclusive and long-term relationship between the two countries.

Keyword:Indonesia, Nicholas J. Cull, Public Diplomacy, Timor Leste