East Timor Officially Joins ASEAN, Marking First Expansion in Decades
Jakarta, Indonesia - East Timor was formally admitted as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast asian Nations (ASEAN) today, a landmark decision representing the group’s first expansion since 1999. The move culminates over a decade of pursuit for full membership by the Southeast Asian nation and signals a new era of regional cooperation.
The inclusion of East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is expected to boost trade, investment, and economic opportunities for the young nation while broadening ASEAN’s reach and influence. For ASEAN, it adds a new voice and outlook, particularly on issues relevant to smaller states and youth empowerment.
East Timor’s path to ASEAN membership has been long and complex, reflecting its turbulent history. A Portuguese colony for over four centuries, the nation declared independence in 1975, only to be invaded by Indonesia nine days later.A brutal 24-year occupation followed, ending with a U.N.-supervised referendum in 1999 that paved the way for formal independence in 2002. Today, the country is led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, who jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.
Despite its newfound independence, East Timor faces significant challenges, including high unemployment, malnutrition, and poverty, with 42% of the population living below the national poverty line. The nation’s economy is heavily reliant on dwindling oil and gas revenues, prompting a push for diversification.
East Timor first applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022. While initial skepticism existed among some member states regarding the nation’s administrative capacity, concerns were ultimately overcome. Joanne Lin, co-coordinator of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Center in Singapore, noted that full participation will require “sustained technical and financial support,” but also brings “new energy and perspectives.”
“For us this new beginning brings immense opportunity in trade,investment,education and the digital economy - we are ready to learn,innovate and uphold good government,” Gusmao said. “This is not the end of a journey, this is a beginning of an inspiring new chapter.”
