Portugal took control of the territory that would become known as Portuguese Timor in the middle of the 18th century, and maintained the eastern half of the island (West Timor was a Dutch possession until World War II) as a colony until Portugal's left-leaning Carnation Revolution in 1974. Portugal declared its intent to give its former colony independence and local parties formed, intending to contest East Timor's first free elections scheduled for 1976. Indonesia, then firmly-rooted in the anti-Soviet camp in Southeast Asia, was alarmed by the left-leaning parties that looked set to win that election. Indonesian invaded the territory in 1975 and annexed East Timor the following year. The subsequent 24-year occupation of East Timor caused great damage to Indonesia's diplomatic relations and to its International reputation.