KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Oct. 26, 2025 – In a historic and deeply symbolic moment, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today officially welcomed Timor-Leste (East Timor) as its 11th member, culminating a 14-year quest for the young nation and finally completing the bloc's geographic vision.
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| Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao speaks at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 26. |
The formal admission was announced during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, drawing applause from leaders across the region. The event marks the bloc's first expansion in over two decades, since Cambodia joined in 1999, and solidifies the unification of all 11 nations geographically located in Southeast Asia under a single regional umbrella.
A "Decade-Long Dream" Realized
For Timor-Leste, a nation that gained full independence in 2002 after a long and arduous struggle, today's accession is a monumental diplomatic and political victory.
The country formally applied for ASEAN membership in 2011. The journey since has been a patient and challenging process of diplomacy, internal reform, and proving its capacity to meet the organization's rigorous demands.
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| ASEAN leaders witness the signing ceremony of the declaration on the admission of Timor Leste into ASEAN - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac |
After being granted "observer status" in 2022, which allowed its officials to attend meetings and participate in some activities, today's full admission signifies its "coming of age" as a stable, sovereign nation and its full acceptance by its regional neighbors.
Why This Is a Game-Changer
The integration of Timor-Leste is significant for both the new member and the established bloc:
For Timor-Leste: Membership unlocks critical new avenues for economic development. It grants the nation access to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), which will be a powerful engine for diversifying its oil-dependent economy. Politically, it provides a vital platform for its voice to be heard and ensures its stability is anchored within the regional security framework.
For ASEAN: The admission fulfills the original "ASEAN-10" dream (now 11) envisioned by its founding fathers. However, it also presents a new, welcome challenge. Timor-Leste is the region's newest and one of its least-developed economies. The bloc will now fully implement a comprehensive "roadmap" to integrate the nation, providing technical assistance and support to help it meet its new obligations, which include participating in thousands of annual ASEAN-related meetings.
The admission ceremony, held on the sidelines of the main summit, was a powerful symbol of regional solidarity. As the flag of Timor-Leste was formally raised alongside those of its 10 new partners, it marked not just the end of a long wait, but the beginning of a new chapter for the entire Southeast Asian family.