Timor-Leste has officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), becoming the regional bloc’s 11th member after waiting nearly 14 years for admission.

“Timor-Leste’s role here completes the ASEAN family, reaffirming our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as quoted by AFP on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

The Summit, held on October 26-28, 2025, includes the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, which formally marks the country’s entry as a full member.

Prime Minister Anwar is presiding over the summit, which consists of plenary and retreat sessions. The plenary session also features participation from ASEAN’s dialogue partners and guests, including the Prime Minister of Canada, the President of the European Council, and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The summit follows a series of ministerial and senior officials’ meetings held from October 22 to 25, and serves as the culmination of Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, before the Philippines assumes leadership on January 1, 2026. The handover ceremony will take place on October 28, 2025.

Long journey to ASEAN membership

Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão joined ASEAN leaders at the signing ceremony, calling the moment the beginning of a new chapter for his country.

“This is not just a dream comes true, but a strong affirmation of our journey marked by resilience, determination, and hope,” Gusmão said. “This is not the end of our journey ‒ it is the beginning of a new and inspiring chapter.”

Timor-Leste, the youngest nation in ASEAN, gained independence in 2002 after years of struggle. Its application for ASEAN membership was first submitted in 2011, championed by President José Ramos-Horta, a long-time advocate of closer regional integration.

The country was granted observer status in 2022, but full membership was delayed due to concerns over economic readiness, infrastructure, and governance capacity.

Challenges ahead

Despite the milestone, Timor-Leste continues to face deep economic and social challenges, including high levels of inequality, malnutrition, and unemployment. The country remains heavily dependent on oil revenues, with limited diversification into other sectors.

Recent protests in September 2025 underscored domestic frustrations: thousands of students and civil society groups demonstrated against a proposed multi-million-dollar purchase of Toyota Prado SUVs for all 65 members of parliament and a lifetime pension plan for former lawmakers. After three days of clashes with police, parliament scrapped both measures amid public pressure.

Analysts say building infrastructure and human resource capacity will be crucial for Timor-Leste to participate effectively in the ASEAN Economic Community and broader regional initiatives.