Indonesia Welcomes Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th Member at Kuala Lumpur Summit
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KUALA LUMPUR, Investortrust.id — Indonesia has welcomed Timor-Leste’s formal admission as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The accession marks a new chapter in ASEAN’s journey toward becoming a more inclusive, resilient, and future-oriented regional community.
Foreign Minister Sugiono said Timor-Leste’s entry into ASEAN represents not the end of a process, but the beginning of a deeper integration journey. “This is not the end, but the beginning for Timor-Leste to complete its internal preparations and for us to support its full integration into ASEAN,” Sugiono stated in a written release from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta.
Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Oct 25, 2025, Sugiono noted that all documents required for Timor-Leste’s full membership were in their final stage of completion. These will be formally signed during the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit, attended by heads of government from all member states and several invited leaders.
“Indonesia has made tangible contributions to support Timor-Leste’s readiness, including through the establishment of a dedicated Timor-Leste Unit within the ASEAN Secretariat,” Sugiono added, as quoted by Antara.
According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the signing of the accession documents will formalize Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN. Earlier on Saturday, Timor-Leste officially deposited its instruments of accession to the ASEAN Charter and to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who currently chairs ASEAN, said Timor-Leste’s participation in the nuclear-free zone treaty reaffirms ASEAN’s collective commitment to unity and peace. “We are not only welcoming a new member into ASEAN, but also reaffirming our shared commitment to an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready community built on peace,” Hasan said.
He added that Timor-Leste’s inclusion in SEANWFZ gives ASEAN new momentum in realizing its vision of a safe and stable region.
The accession ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Sugiono alongside other ASEAN foreign ministers. Indonesia’s presence underscored its full support for strengthening regional integration and solidarity across Southeast Asia.