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East Timor officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday, ending a 14-year effort to join the regional bloc.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who presides over ASEAN as its current chair, expressed that East Timor’s accession “completes the ASEAN family — reaffirming our shared destiny and deep regional kinship.” He added, “Within this community, Timor-Leste’s development and strategic independence will receive strong and lasting support,” during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Sometimes called by its Portuguese name, Timor-Leste, East Timor is the latest and youngest nation in Southeast Asia — gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002 after more than two decades of occupation.
President Jose Ramos-Horta has long championed ASEAN membership, having first submitted an application in 2011 during his initial term. The formal signing of the declaration welcoming East Timor marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s leadership of ASEAN.
Although East Timor was granted observer status in 2022, full membership faced delays due to multiple hurdles. The country continues to confront issues like high inequality, malnutrition, and unemployment, and remains heavily dependent on oil exports with limited diversification into other sectors. Questions persist about its capacity to actively contribute to the ASEAN development goals.
Much of its infrastructure development and human resource capacity are still developing, both critical for meaningful participation in ASEAN’s economic community. In September, protests erupted over a multi-million dollar plan to buy Toyota Prado SUVs for all 65 MPs and lifetime pensions for past lawmakers. The protests turned violent over two days, prompting parliament to cancel the vehicle purchase and reconsider pension plans.
Since its founding as a five-member alliance in 1967, ASEAN has expanded over the years, with Cambodia joining in 1999 as its most recent addition.
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