By Nuno Canas Mendes

East Asia Forum-May 16, 2025

Timor-Leste’s admission into ASEAN remains undecided due to concerns about its economic, social and geopolitical conditions, despite potential benefits of eased market access, security, regional socialization and the potential to boost its economic growth and modernization efforts. Additionally, reservations about its readiness to join extend to potential impacts on ASEAN’s progress, alongside uncertainties about Timor-Leste’s geopolitical stance and concerns arising from its economic dependence on oil revenues, underdeveloped infrastructure and need for economic diversification. Read more at: https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/16/uncertainty-clouds-timor-lestes-admission-to-asean/ First published in East Asia Forum