Think Tank 2025
(L-R) PM Xanana Gusmão with Ambassador Ong Keng Yong
Timor-Leste and ASEAN: A New Chapter in the Region’s Story
15 Jul 2025
Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, Timor-Leste will soon join Southeast Asia’s biggest regional group – ASEAN. Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership comes at a pivotal moment for a region that is simultaneously driving economic integration alongside growing demands for strategic coherence within ASEAN.
In this RSIS Distinguished Lecture, held on 15 July 2025, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão expounded on how Timor-Leste is preparing for ASEAN membership and its priorities in ASEAN in the years to come. PM Gusmão also shared insights on Timor-Leste’s role in the region and how his country intends to navigate a complex external environment marked by shifting power dynamics.
Watch the Distinguished Public Lecture here:
