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Timor-Leste, represented by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, formally joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the summit in Malaysia on Oct. 26, 2025. ASEAN photo release
MACTAN, Cebu — The ASEAN Summit 2026 will formally welcome Timor-Leste as a full-fledged member of the regional bloc this year.
Timor-Leste, which is Asia's youngest country, has been on observer status in the ASEAN from 2022 to 2025.
"This year, we welcome Timor-Leste as a full-fledged member of ASEAN, a reflection of the continued relevance of regional cooperation and our shared commitment to the ideals of multilateralism," President Bongbong Marcos Jr said in a statement.
DFA Spokesperson for the ASEAN Asec. Dominic Xavier Imperial said that they were hoping to endorse the Cebu Protocol to the ASEAN leaders, which will formalize Timor-Leste's inclusion in the group.
"This will be the first amendment in the charter since it was signed in 2007, which is about the full integration of Timor-Leste into the regional bloc, reflecting ASEAN's continued institutional strengthening," Imperial said.
Timor-Leste officially gained independence only on May 20, 2002, after being a Portuguese colony and then later under Indonesian control.
WELCOMING DELEGATES
Marcos welcomed ASEAN delegates in a video message on Wednesday.
"It has been nine years since the Philippines last chaired ASEAN. Since then, our region has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming major obstacles and making meaningful progress," Marcos said.
"But our work is far from over, as we continue to wrestle against an increasingly complex global environment where prompt and sustained cooperation is crucial," the President added.
The President reiterated that the summit would focus on three key priorities, which includes energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals across the world.
"At this summit, I will lead discussions on how the region can bolster regional preparedness and ensure stable energy supply and accelerate energy diversification to reduce vulnerability to external shocks, including those stemming from the conflict in the Middle East," he said.
"I will push to strengthen food security in the region, keeping the free flow of essential goods and building measures to support farmers and MSMEs," Marcos added.
"I will also ensure that ASEAN nationals across the world feel the impact of what we do here in the region. Their safety is equally important, recognizing the contribution of overseas ASEAN nationals in our societies and our economies."
Marcos is slated to arrive in Cebu on Wednesday evening ahead of the Leader's Summit on Friday.
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