East Nusa Tenggara – Timor Leste Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, set foot in Indonesia on Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 2023, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Leaders’ Summit — marking the country’s first participation in Southeast Asia’s foremost regional grouping. This debut appearance marks a momentous milestone for the youngest nation in Asia (which gained full independence and UN membership in 2002) and its journey of becoming the newest member of ASEAN. Dili, Timor Leste’s capital, applied for membership in 2011 and was finally granted an observer status during ASEAN’s 2022 Summit in Cambodia “in principle” as ASEAN’s 11th member.
Ruak, in his formal address, stated that Timor Leste will meet all of its obligations to attain full membership under the guideline of the “objective-based” roadmap adopted during the 2022 Labuan Bajo Summit. The checklist includes establishing a diplomatic mission between ASEAN and Timor Leste, ratifying necessary regulations to comply with ASEAN’s numerous agreements, planning financial contributions, and building infrastructures to be used for future ASEAN host meetings.
Strategic partners and neighboring countries, such as Australia and the US, have expressed their gratitude and welcomed the official declaration to admit Timor Leste symbolizing ASEAN’s solidarity amidst global uncertainty and regional conflicts exemplified primarily by Myanmar’s ongoing civil unrest.
Timor Leste’s accession to ASEAN has been tricky due to the unanimity principle in the association that gives each member practically veto power to block any resolution to bring in new members. When the Philippines tried to arouse support for Timor Leste’s membership back in 2017 during the Manila Summit, Singapore objected, citing the country’s inadequate compatibility with other ASEAN members, its close ties with China, and poor financial capability that could burden the region’s economic cooperation.
Timor Leste’s minuscule population of less than 1.5 million, far fewer than Laos’ 7.5 million, ASEAN’s smallest population, (of which 40% live below the poverty line), its low level of educational attainment, and its growing dependence on the agriculture sector proved to be setbacks in its accession to ASEAN. And yet, much has improved in the island nation with a stable socio-political condition over the past 15 years.
Positive diplomatic relations with all ASEAN member states and a more promising economic growth compared to Cambodia and Myanmar are paving a more reachable path to full membership. Moreover, the benefit of accepting Timor Leste for ASEAN outweighs worries over its economy. This is mainly due to its projection of multiculturalism and unity in the face of disputes between the Sino-Russia alliance with Western countries while also expanding its influence on other Pacific Island countries.
The economic aspect would be a crucial point in Timor Leste’ roadmap to ASEAN full membership. Infrastructure development, trade talks with other ASEAN neighbors, and development cooperation serve as major tests for future integration. The country’s national gateway, the Nicolau Lobato Airport, has to be developed in order to accommodate international travelers, along with its communication and information groundwork that would need major enhancement to support better connection and accessibility. These major infrastructure restorations are also being done in line with its effort to join the global market through its simultaneous application for WTO membership, which is expected to be concluded in February 2024.