ASEAN admits East Timor as newest member, marks first expansion since 1990s

ASEAN announced the inclusion of East Timor — also known as Timor-Leste — during the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held on October 26, 2025.

“In a historic occasion for the region, the Signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN took place at the Opening Ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit,” the bloc said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The declaration was signed by ASEAN leaders along with Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, marking the formal acceptance of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member state.

“This achievement is the result of years of close cooperation between ASEAN and Timor-Leste,” the statement said.

Timor-Leste applied for ASEAN membership in 2011. In 2022, ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit the country as a member, granting it observer status in ASEAN meetings. A year later, the bloc adopted a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership, guiding the country’s preparations to meet ASEAN’s requirements, including accession to key legal instruments and participation in all three ASEAN Community pillars.

“Today’s ceremony represents the culmination of this dedicated journey and ASEAN’s collective support in welcoming Timor-Leste into the ASEAN family,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Gusmão hailed the country’s inclusion as a “historic milestone” in its nation-building journey.

“Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN represents the realisation of our long-standing vision to stand shoulder to shoulder with our regional neighbours as equal partners in building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Southeast Asia,” he said. “This moment reflects the collective dedication and hard work of our government, our people and our ASEAN partners.”