DILI, 03 June 2026 (TATOLI) — The Council of Ministers has approved a draft resolution seeking ratification of the Cebu Protocol amending the ASEAN Charter, marking another step in Timor-Leste’s integration into the regional bloc.
The proposal was presented by Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Maria da Costa Rangel and will be submitted to the National Parliament for ratification.
The protocol, adopted at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on May 8th, 2026, formally amends the ASEAN Charter to reflect Timor-Leste’s admission as the organisation’s eleventh member state.
The amendment updates the official list of Member States, as well as the ASEAN flag and emblem.
The ratification of this instrument marks another step towards Timor-Leste’s full integration into ASEAN, ensuring the country’s participation in the organisation’s institutional framework and the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken upon acceding to the ASEAN Charter.
Timor-Leste officially joined ASEAN on October 26, 2025, becoming the bloc’s 11th member state during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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