Overview
- Leaders are expected to formalize East Timor’s accession at the Oct. 26–28 summit in Kuala Lumpur, capping a bid launched in 2011 after securing observer status in 2022.
- ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn says membership will amplify the country’s voice and secure its strategic interests through established diplomatic and economic support.
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim voiced confidence the bloc can assist East Timor, noting contributions from partners including the West and China.
- Analysts highlight near-term benefits in political legitimacy and regional insulation from great-power rivalry, including pressures from the United States and China.
- Economic constraints persist for the 1.4 million–person nation with a roughly $2 billion, oil-reliant economy, as experts caution that low productivity and governance weaknesses could mute gains and spur reform efforts.