Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, on Sunday became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Established in 1967, ASEAN was, before now, composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Timor-Leste’s elevation fulfills the ambition set by President Jose Ramos-Horta in the 1970s, while the youngest nation in Asia was controlled by Portugal, which ruled for nearly three centuries.
President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao were present at the signing of the Declaration of Admission during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In a congratulatory message, the United States government noted that the historic accomplishment marks an important step in Timor-Leste’s pursuit of regional integration and cooperation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said since becoming an observer, the country has taken steps to engage with ASEAN institutions and demonstrated dedication to the vision for peace and prosperity.
Expressing its commitment to the organization’s centrality and Timor-Leste’s integration efforts, the U.S. assured it would work closely with the new ASEAN member.
Located in the easternmost part of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia, Timor-Leste is famous for its teeming marine life and has a population of 1.4 million, according to the World Bank.
The nation gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but was invaded and annexed by Indonesia until 1999. It regained independence in May 2002, following a UN-sponsored referendum.
Timor-Leste, where Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages, applied for ASEAN membership in 2011. In November 2022, member states principally approved its entry into the regional grouping.
