East Timor Formally Joins ASEAN as 11th Member

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs ASEAN, said Timor-Leste’s accession “completes the ASEAN family, reaffirming our common destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.”

Speaking at the ASEAN summit held in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said, “Within this community, East Timor’s development and strategic autonomy will find solid and lasting support.” he said.

East Timor, also known by its Portuguese name East Timor, is the youngest country in the region, gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002 after 24 years of occupation.

President Jose Ramos-Horta has long campaigned for ASEAN membership, and the application was first made in 2011 during his first term.

The signing of a declaration on the admission of East Timor on Sunday is also seen as one of the key achievements of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.

Timor-Leste was granted observer status to the regional body in 2022, but its full membership has been delayed due to various challenges.

The country continues to struggle with high levels of inequality, malnutrition and unemployment.

It remains heavily dependent on oil, with little diversification into other sectors, and some concerns remain about its ability to meaningfully participate in ASEAN’s development agenda.

It also faces challenges in infrastructure development and human resource capacity, which are seen as critical for effective participation in ASEAN’s economic community.

In September, thousands of student-led protesters demonstrated against a multimillion-dollar plan to buy Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the country’s 65 MPs and lifetime pensions for former MPs.

Protesters and police clashed for two days before Parliament canceled the vehicle purchase.

Parliament also bowed to public pressure over MPs’ pensions.

ASEAN began as a five-member bloc in 1967 and has gradually expanded, with Cambodia being the latest addition in 1999.