Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN as 11th Member, Concluding 14-Year Application Process

On October 26, 2025, during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Timor-Leste was officially admitted as the 11th member of ASEAN. This milestone concludes a 14-year application process that began in 2011.

The accession ceremony featured the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN, attended by Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and other ASEAN leaders. Prime Minister Gusmão described the event as a "dream realized," emphasizing its significance for the nation's development and regional integration.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted that Timor-Leste's inclusion "completes the ASEAN family," reinforcing regional unity and shared destiny.

Timor-Leste, with a population of approximately 1.4 million and a GDP of around $2 billion, anticipates that ASEAN membership will enhance economic growth, trade, and investment opportunities.

The journey to ASEAN membership began in 2011 when Timor-Leste formally applied for membership. In 2022, ASEAN granted Timor-Leste observer status, allowing participation in high-level meetings and signaling progress toward full membership. The Timor-Leste government established an interministerial working group to accelerate negotiations and fulfill the necessary requirements for accession.

Timor-Leste's admission marks the first expansion of ASEAN since 1999, when Cambodia joined as the 10th member. Established in 1967, ASEAN has grown from its original five members to now include 11 nations, promoting cooperation in political, economic, and socio-cultural spheres.

ASEAN membership is expected to facilitate greater integration with regional neighbors, opening avenues for development and economic diversification.

The inclusion of Timor-Leste is seen as a strengthening of ASEAN's unity and influence in Southeast Asia. It also presents potential challenges and opportunities arising from the inclusion of a developing nation with unique socio-economic conditions.

Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN represents a significant milestone in its national development and regional integration efforts. The move is expected to foster closer ties among member states and contribute to the overall stability and prosperity of the region.