Confirmation of Timor-Leste’s accession comes at the start of Asean’s 47th summit in Kuala Lumpur, which begins on Sunday 26 October. Myanmar’s intractable civil war and the simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia are likely to overshadow proceedings.

Anwar signed the declaration first, followed by other Asean leaders and Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said becoming Asean’s 11th member marks the beginning of an inspiring new chapter for the nation. “Timor-Leste joins with humility and pride,” he said.

Timor-Leste’s long-awaited admission into ASEAN and United States President Donald Trump’s attendance, his first since returning to office, have dominated the first day of the bloc’s 47th summit on Sunday,

The 47th ASEAN Summit comes as the bloc’s founding principles of consensus and non-interference face their sharpest tests. These norms once preserved harmony among diverse states, but they now curb swift action on crises like Myanmar and collective responses to external pressures.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds the Malaysia and U.S. flags during a welcoming ceremony as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 26, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool