Timor-Leste joins Asean

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta speaks during a bilateral meeting in Malacañang on Friday, November 10, 2023. Photo from RTV Malacañang.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Sunday welcomed Timor-Leste (East Timor) as its newest member, with its prime minister saying this was a “dream realized” for the tiny nation after almost two decades of an arduous application process.

“Today, history is made,” Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told the other leaders as the flag of Timor-Leste was added to the other 10 on the stage at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

It was Asean’s first expansion since the 1990s and the last country to join the 58-year-old regional bloc was Cambodia in 1999.

‘Historic milestone’

Both Gusmao and Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta were present as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the nine other leaders from Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam signed the declaration of Timor-Leste’s accession to Asean membership.

“Today marks a historic milestone for Southeast Asia as we officially welcome Timor Leste into the Asean family. Its admission reflects our region’s collective commitment to unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity,” Marcos said in a statement.

“As we open the 47th Asean Summit, the Philippines stands ready to work with all member states to build a more inclusive, secure and sustainable future for our people,” he added.

“For the people of Timor Leste this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey—one marked by resilience, determination and hope,” he said.

Gusmao said “this new beginning brings immense opportunity in trade, investment, education and the digital economy—we are ready to learn, innovate and uphold good government.”

“This is not the end of a journey, this is a beginning of an inspiring new chapter,” he said.

‘Born from struggle’

Timor-Leste’s prime minister pledged that his country would be a productive member of Asean.

The ceremony marked the opening of Asean’s annual summit, followed by two days of high-level engagements with key partners including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japan’s newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi were among the leaders who had arrived or were expected to be on hand.

East Timor’s accession to Asean gives the country, which has just 1.4 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of around $2 billion, better access to an economic community of nations with some 680 million people and a $3.8-trillion economy.

Gusmao said since 2011, they have prepared their institutions, reformed their policies, and strengthened their readiness to become part of Asean.

“Our accession is a testament to the spirit of our people—a young democracy, born from struggle, now embracing a new era of collaboration and growth within one of the world’s most dynamic regions,” he said.

The Philippines has been a consistent and active supporter of Timor-Leste’s accession to Asean since it first applied for membership in 2011.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country holds the bloc’s rotating chairmanship, said East Timor’s accession “completes the Asean family, the affirming of our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.”

He said Asean’s goal was to “pursue growth that is both resilient and fair, and to safeguard the welfare of generations to come.”

‘Expansion’

The integration of the region’s youngest nation, and one of its poorest, demonstrates Asean’s “inclusivity and adaptability, especially at a time of geopolitical flux,” said Angeline Tan, an analyst with Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic & International Studies:

“As protectionism is on the rise, the expansion of Asean demonstrates its commitment to regionalism, openness and equal participation,” she said.

Asean membership gives East Timor access to the bloc’s free trade deals, investment opportunities and a broader regional market.

As Asean’s newest member, Timor-Leste is expected to further strengthen regional cooperation in key areas such as economic growth, people-to-people exchanges, and regional integration, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro.

Economic problems

East Timor, wedged between Indonesia and Australia, was a Portuguese colony for more than four centuries before declaring independence in 1975.

Indonesia invaded nine days later, beginning a brutal 24-year occupation that claimed tens of thousands of lives through conflict, famine and disease.

A United Nations-supervised referendum in 1999 paved the way for independence, which was formally restored in 2002.

Today it is led by two independence heroes, Prime Minister Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.

They are trying to tackle high levels of unemployment, malnutrition and poverty.

Some 42 percent of the country’s population live below the national poverty line and nearly two-thirds of its citizens are under 30 years old, making youth job creation a high priority.

Its major source of government revenues comes from the oil and gas industry, but with resources quickly becoming depleted it is looking to diversify. —WITH A REPORT FROM AP