Myanmar has emerged as the strongest opponent to Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership bid, with 48.7% of Myanmar expressing opposition according to recent polling data, followed by Brunei Darussalam at 45.0%, creating significant challenges for the Southeast Asian nation's accession process.
The lack of ASEAN consensus over Timor-Leste's application has complicated the membership timeline, despite ASEAN's principle of decision-making by consensus requiring unanimous support from all ten current member states for new admissions.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan recently announced that Timor-Leste could join ASEAN as soon as October 2025 if it fulfills remaining legal requirements, marking potential progress after the country first applied for membership in 2011, less than a decade after declaring independence.
ASEAN has already granted Timor-Leste observer status in 2022, enabling participation in meetings including summit plenaries, with leaders adopting a roadmap for the nation's full membership as part of the bloc's expansion beyond its current ten-member structure.
The admission of Timor-Leste will recall quarter-century-old concerns about the development gap within the association, as the young nation faces significantly higher membership requirements compared to previous ASEAN members, highlighting ongoing debates about economic disparities and readiness criteria within the regional bloc.
