East Timor, officially known as Timor Leste, became the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday, a milestone Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao described as a “dream realized” for the nation and a significant step toward boosting its struggling economy.
The formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur saw East Timor’s flag added to the stage alongside the other 10 member states, marking ASEAN’s first expansion since the 1990s after more than a decade of deliberations. “For the people of Timor Leste, this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey—one defined by resilience, determination and hope,” Gusmao said.
ASEAN membership provides East Timor, a nation with a GDP of around $2 billion and a population of 1.4 million, access to a regional economic community of 680 million people with a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs the bloc, said East Timor’s accession “completes the ASEAN family” and reflects the bloc’s shared destiny and regional kinship.
Analysts highlighted the significance of integrating Southeast Asia’s youngest and poorest nation. “The expansion demonstrates ASEAN’s commitment to inclusivity, openness, and equal participation, especially amid rising protectionism,” said Angeline Tan of Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic & International Studies.
East Timor, located between Indonesia and Australia, endured a prolonged struggle for independence. A former Portuguese colony for over four centuries, it declared independence in 1975 but was invaded by Indonesia nine days later, triggering a 24-year occupation that claimed tens of thousands of lives. A U.N.-supervised referendum in 1999 paved the way for full independence, restored in 2002.
Led today by independence heroes Prime Minister Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, a 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, East Timor faces challenges including high unemployment, widespread poverty, and malnutrition. About 42% of the population lives below the national poverty line, and nearly two-thirds are under 30, making youth employment a key priority.
ASEAN membership opens doors for trade, investment, education, and digital economy initiatives. Gusmao said, “This is not the end of a journey; this is the beginning of an inspiring new chapter,” emphasizing the country’s readiness to innovate, learn, and strengthen good governance.
Source: AP