East Timor joins ASEAN

Marcos: PH ready to lead ASEAN with practical, inclusive, measurable initiatives

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS, and BETHEENA UNITE

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations welcomed East Timor as its newest member Sunday, which its prime minister said was a “dream realized” for the tiny nation.

"Today, history is made," Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told the other leaders as the flag of East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, was added to the other 10 on the stage at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

It was ASEAN's first expansion since the 1990s and was more than a decade in the making.

"For the people of Timor Leste, this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey one marked by resilience, determination and hope," he said.

The ceremony marked the opening of ASEAN's annual summit, followed by two days of highlevel engagements with key partners including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the U.S.

PH ready to take ASEAN helm President Marcos declared the Philippines ready to take the helm of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, promising a leadership anchored on "practical, inclusive, and measurable initiatives" that will directly benefit the region's people.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President made the statement during his intervention at the ASEAN Plenary Session at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, where leaders gathered for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

"Nagpahayag ng kahandaan si Pangulong Marcos para sa ASEAN 2026 kung saan ang Pilipinas ang magsisilbing host country (President Marcos expressed the Philippines' readiness for ASEAN 2026, where the country will serve as host)," she said in a briefing on the sidelines of the summit on Sunday, Oct. 26.