Since achieving independence in 2002, the Southeast Asian nation of East Timor has made it clear that its economic future is inextricably linked to the framework of ASEAN, a significant regional organization that has been at the forefront of Dili’s diplomatic efforts for decades, with the ultimate goal of becoming the organization’s eleventh member state.
Following 23 years of persistent diplomatic endeavors, this objective was finally achieved on October 26, 2025, during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This marked the bloc’s first expansion since 1999.
To mark the occasion, the Ambassador of East Timor-Leste to the United States, Luis Jose Gutiérrez, hosted a diplomatic reception Monday at the country’s chancery in Washington to reflect on this historic achievement, before a hundred guests that included several ambassadors, diplomats, officials from the US Department of State, and a handful of journalists.
The ambassadors of Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Deputy Chief of Mission of Malaysia and Vietnam were among the guest speakers. Each congratulated East Timor-Leste and pledged full cooperation for the country’s success as a member of the powerful ASEAN regional grouping.
East Timor-Leste, an island nation in Southeast Asia with a population of over 1,300,000, was formerly colonized by Portugal and was the last Asian country to gain independence in 2002. Thanks to oil revenues that have fueled strong economic growth in recent years, East Timor is classified as a middle-income country by the World Bank.
Formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the world’s largest regional groupings with 700 million people and a GDP estimated at 40 billion dollars.
