Which country was formally admitted as the 11th member of ASEAN at the 47th Summit in October 2025?

Timor-Leste was formally welcomed as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on October 26, 2025. This historic admission took place during the 47th ASEAN Summit, which was hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN by its Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, alongside the leaders of the existing member states, marked the culmination of a long-standing aspiration.

The journey for Timor-Leste to join the regional bloc was extensive, spanning over a decade. The nation, which gained its independence in 2002, initially applied for full membership in ASEAN in 2011. After years of preparation and capacity-building efforts to meet the organization's political, economic, and administrative requirements, ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste in November 2022, subsequently granting it observer status at high-level meetings. A roadmap for its full membership was then adopted in 2023, guiding its final steps towards integration.

This accession represents a significant milestone for both Timor-Leste and ASEAN. For Timor-Leste, it solidifies its regional identity and offers new avenues for economic development and diplomatic engagement, having overcome centuries of colonial rule and a period of occupation to achieve sovereignty. Its inclusion is also seen as completing the "ASEAN family," reinforcing the bloc's commitment to regional cohesion and shared destiny, even as it adds the smallest economy to the group.