East Timor joins ASEAN in bloc’s first expansion since the 1990s on opening day of summit
Summary
East Timor has become the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which marks the organization's first expansion since the 1990s. During the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia and Thailand also signed an agreement to expand a ceasefire between their countries, a process in which President Donald Trump participated.Key Facts
- East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, joined ASEAN, the first expansion since the 1990s.
- East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao called this event a "dream realized" for the nation.
- The ASEAN summit was attended by leaders from countries including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea, and the U.S.
- Cambodia and Thailand signed an expanded ceasefire agreement during the summit.
- President Donald Trump was involved in brokering peace between Cambodia and Thailand.
- The agreement includes a release of prisoners and the removal of heavy weapons from the border area.
- ASEAN membership could help East Timor economically, providing access to a community with a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion.
- East Timor's accession is seen as a demonstration of ASEAN’s commitment to regional cooperation.
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