Accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN

Timor-Leste became a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on 26 October 2025 during the 47th ASEAN Summit, finishing a two-decade accession process.

The island nation was recognised as an observer to ASEAN soon after it gained independence in May 2002. By 2007, all of its political parties supported closer ties with the organisation, and leaders declared a "strategic decision" to seek membership. The country applied for membership in 2011, and ASEAN agreed in principle to admit the country and make it a formal observer in 2022.

Timor-Leste has the smallest GDP in the ASEAN by far. Its GDP is less than 15% of Laos, the member state with the second-smallest GDP.

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