Timor-Leste will officially become the 11th permanent member of ASEAN, marking the end of a process that spanned more than a decade. This milestone was achieved on Saturday, October 25, 2025, when the country formally submitted its instruments of accession to the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ).
The ceremony was filled with symbolism and significance. Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas, formally handed the documents to Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan—the current ASEAN Chair—and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
In his remarks, Mohamad Hasan described the moment as “living history” for the region, “This effectively marks Timor-Leste’s full admission as the 11th member of ASEAN, and the expansion of ASEAN’s scope to include each and every sovereign state in this home we share,” he said (October 25).
The official membership declaration ceremony for Timor-Leste is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2025, coinciding with the opening of the 47th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia.
Read also: Why Timor-Leste's Journey to the ASEAN Took So Long?
A Historic Milestone
This step is far more than a procedural formality, it stands as a symbol of recognition for Timor-Leste’s long journey as a young nation built through struggle, courage, and resilience. Mohamad Hasan emphasized:
“Today, we celebrate you, a nation built on courage, perseverance, and unyielding hope, as you join a family that has long awaited your full inclusion. Welcome to the ASEAN Family, and to our venerated Charter.”
He also described the ASEAN Charter as “the heartbeat of the regional grouping’s shared vision, a covenant of trust, respect, and solidarity that has bound diverse nations together.”
With Timor-Leste’s accession, every sovereign state in Southeast Asia is now united under one regional community: ASEAN.
Commitment to Peace and a Nuclear-Free Region
Alongside its accession to the ASEAN Charter, Timor-Leste also signed the SEANWFZ Treaty, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a nuclear-weapon-free Southeast Asia.
Through this treaty, Timor-Leste joins other ASEAN members in ensuring that the region remains safe from weapons of mass destruction.
This signing further reinforces ASEAN’s position as a region that upholds peace, stability, and collective security, even amid an increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape.
From Struggle to Regional Recognition
Timor-Leste’s journey to ASEAN membership is the result of a long and challenging process.
The nation, which gained independence in 2002 following a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, first submitted its application to join ASEAN in 2011. After years of evaluation and capacity assessments, ASEAN granted observer status to Timor-Leste in November 2022, along with a roadmap toward full membership.
Now, after 14 years of anticipation, that dream has finally become reality. Timor-Leste’s accession marks ASEAN’s first expansion in over two decades, since Cambodia officially joined the bloc in 1999.
About 47th ASEAN Summit
This year’s summit, themed “Inclusiveness and Sustainability,” will be attended by ASEAN leaders as well as dialogue partners from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, and the United States.
As host, Malaysia will also convene a series of major meetings, including the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the RCEP Summit.
During these sessions, leaders are expected to discuss key regional issues such as economic integration, connectivity, supply chain resilience, digital transformation, green energy, and multilateral cooperation—all within the context of a rapidly shifting global landscape.
