East Timor celebrates historic ASEAN membership – A new beginning!

East Timor celebrates historic ASEAN membership – A new beginning!

Today, October 26, 2025, a major chapter in the history of ASEAN opens. The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was officially admitted as the eleventh member of ASEAN. This ceremony took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) where prominent figures such as Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, China's Premier Li Qiang and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao were in attendance. This ends a 14-year wait for the young country, which only gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and has since then sought a place in this important regional organization.

The mood in Kuala Lumpur was euphoric as the flag of East Timor was ceremoniously placed on the stage. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao spoke of a “historic moment” and the opening of new opportunities for trade and investment. This membership is not only a significant step for Timor-Leste, but is also seen as a contribution to stability in the region. President Jose Ramos-Horta, who had already brought ASEAN membership into play in the 1970s, sees the admission as a victory for decades of efforts for independence and recognition.

The background to participation

Timor-Leste has a population of about 1.4 million people and a gross domestic product of around $2 billion. Although this is relatively small compared to ASEAN's collective GDP, which stands at approximately $3.8 trillion, membership promises to boost the country's economic growth. Integration into ASEAN will help the country gain valuable experience in dealing with regional conflicts, particularly in the often turbulent context of the South China Sea and other geopolitical tensions.

The 47th ASEAN Summit will be held under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” and is considered one of the largest meetings in the organization's history. In addition to the ceremonial signing of the membership declaration, the summit will also include numerous plenary sessions focusing on topics such as ASEAN community building and economic growth.

A look into the future

In addition to Timor-Leste's admission, US President Donald Trump's visit to Malaysia is on the agenda. This will be his first official trip to Malaysia during his second term, which also has a historic dimension. During the summit, among other things, an expanded ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand will be signed. ASEAN is thus proving to be a platform for important diplomatic progress.

The Association of ASEAN States was founded in 1967 and has continued to develop since then. It is not just an economic forum, but a space for political and social dialogue. The challenges facing Member States are diverse. Nevertheless, consensus and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries are upheld as a principle, which promotes stability in the region. In addition, ASEAN will continue to serve as a model for increased cooperation among Southeast Asian countries.

Overall, the admission of Timor-Leste is a new step towards cooperation and integration in a dynamic region that is constantly changing.

For further details on this topic, the following links provide additional information: Bangkok Post, Malay Mail and Wikipedia.