ASEAN Charter Amended to Facilitate Timor-Leste's Integration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn revealed that ASEAN leaders have agreed to amend the ASEAN Charter to accommodate Timor-Leste’s position as a full member of the organisation. In a press conference on the outcomes of the 48th ASEAN Summit at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Monday (11/5), Kao stated that the decision was established through the adoption of the Cebu Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Charter. “This is the first time the leaders have decided to amend the ASEAN Charter. This step is necessary to accommodate Timor-Leste’s accession as a full member,” Kao said. He explained that this amendment represents the first change to the ASEAN Charter since it was adopted in 2007 and ratified in 2008. According to Kao, Timor-Leste’s joining demonstrates that ASEAN continues to develop as a stronger, more inclusive, and diverse community. The ASEAN Secretary-General also stated that Southeast Asian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting Timor-Leste’s full integration through various sustainable initiatives. Timor-Leste officially became the 11th full member of ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 26 October 2025. Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the development as an important milestone for ASEAN reform and Timor-Leste’s full integration into the regional bloc. “Another important achievement is the adoption of the Cebu Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Charter. This marks the first amendment to the ASEAN Charter since its signing in 2007,” Marcos said, as reported by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The amendment was carried out nearly two decades after ASEAN leaders signed the charter in Cebu, which transformed ASEAN into a rules-based regional organisation with legal personality. According to Marcos, the protocol reflects ASEAN’s development as a stronger and more inclusive regional community. Previously, ASEAN officials stated that the amendment was necessary to support Timor-Leste’s full integration after the country officially became a member.