U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday, fulfilling a vision that dates back nearly five decades. The milestone marks a new chapter for the small nation of 1.4 million people, which has long aspired to strengthen its place in regional politics and economics.
The formal induction took place at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where leaders warmly welcomed East Timor by raising its national flag among those of the bloc’s members. The moment was met with applause, symbolizing both a diplomatic success and a dream realized for President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, two figures instrumental in the country’s independence struggle.
In his emotional address, Gusmao called the event “a new beginning filled with immense opportunities” for trade, investment, and development. He emphasized that East Timor’s accession represents not the end of a journey but a continuation of its pursuit for prosperity and stability within the region.
East Timor’s economy remains one of Asia’s smallest, valued at around $2 billion, a fraction of ASEAN’s collective $3.8 trillion GDP. Nevertheless, integration into ASEAN offers the nation a platform for economic growth, foreign investment, and stronger diplomatic ties.
Once a Portuguese colony for three centuries, East Timor endured a turbulent history — from Portuguese withdrawal in 1975 to Indonesia’s subsequent occupation, before finally achieving independence in 2002. Ramos-Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, first proposed ASEAN membership in the 1970s, envisioning regional unity as key to national security and progress.
He reaffirmed in recent interviews that East Timor seeks to contribute to ASEAN’s peace and stability, offering its experience in conflict resolution and dialogue to help strengthen regional cooperation and solidarity.
