East Timor Joins ASEAN as 11th Member After 14-Year Campaign

East Timor officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its 11th member after a 14-year campaign, marking the first expansion of the bloc since the 1990s. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao expressed pride and commitment to ASEAN's values, emphasizing this milestone as the start of a new chapter for Timor-Leste's development and regional integration. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chairing ASEAN, highlighted that East Timor's accession completes the ASEAN family and reaffirmed support for the country's development and strategic autonomy. Despite challenges such as high inequality, unemployment, reliance on oil, and infrastructure deficits, East Timor pledges to contribute constructively to ASEAN's goals of peace, prosperity, and inclusivity. The accession is viewed as a significant achievement of Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship and a demonstration of ASEAN's adaptability amid geopolitical uncertainties. Public protests in East Timor against government spending and pensions reveal ongoing domestic issues that the country must address while integrating into the regional community.