East Timor may take years to get full ASEAN membership

Significance

East Timor was concomitantly given observer status and allowed to participate in all the group’s meetings. The ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) will finalise an “objective criteria-based” roadmap for it to secure full membership, to be presented for adoption at the next summit in Indonesia.

Impacts

• East Timor will continue to balance its relations with China and the United States.
• Canberra will remain Dili’s most important security and economic partner.
• Negotiations between East Timor and Australia over where to process gas from the Greater Sunrise field will run into 2023.