• East Timor officially becomes the 11th member of ASEAN after 14 years of campaigning.
• Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao describes the accession as a "dream realised" and a new beginning for trade and investment.
• East Timor's membership is viewed as a significant step for regional integration and a symbol of resilience.

On Sunday, East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, formally joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its 11th member, following a 14-year campaign. The ceremony took place during the annual ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, where applause erupted as East Timor's flag was raised alongside those of its new peers, marking a historic moment for the country and fulfilling a vision first articulated by President Jose Ramos-Horta decades ago, during Portuguese colonial rule, according to Reuters and The Jakarta Post.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao expressed his emotions during the ceremony, stating, “For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realised, but a powerful affirmation of our journey – one marked by resilience, determination and hope.” He emphasized that this accession is just the beginning of an inspiring new chapter for the country, which has a population of about 1.4 million and an economy largely reliant on dwindling oil and gas reserves, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Historically, East Timor's path to ASEAN has been a long one, beginning with its initial application for membership in 2011. The country, after gaining independence in 2002 following years of conflict and occupation by Indonesia, has been seeking stability and broader economic integration through ASEAN. With a gross domestic product of around $2 billion, East Timor remains one of Asia's poorest nations, aspiring to benefit from greater trade and investment opportunities within the ASEAN framework, as noted by The Jakarta Post and Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described the addition of East Timor as a completion of the ASEAN family, affirming a collective vision for unity and regional support for sustainable development. He remarked that East Timor's participation would foster a deeper kinship among ASEAN member states, a sentiment echoed by Gusmao who highlighted the immense opportunities awaiting the country in the realms of education and the digital economy, as outlined by South China Morning Post and The Jakarta Post.