October 29, 2025 | 12:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Initially founded with just five member countries in 1967 by Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, ASEAN now welcomes its 11th member. On October 26, 2025, East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, further underscoring the region’s continuous growth in political ties and cooperative efforts.
Against this backdrop, a closer look at how each of the ASEAN countries joined the bloc serves as a powerful reminder of its shared commitment to unity.
List of 11 ASEAN Countries
1. Indonesia (1967)
Indonesia is one of the founding members of ASEAN. The archipelagic nation co-drafted and signed the Bangkok Declaration on August 8, 1967. To this day, Indonesia remains a key driver in promoting regional security, stability, and integration among ASEAN members.
2. Malaysia (1967)
Alongside Indonesia and the other founding nations, Malaysia signed the Bangkok Declaration in the same main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok. Its commitment marked an important step toward regional cooperation in economic, social, cultural, technical, educational, and other sectors across Southeast Asia.
3. Philippines (1967)
Signed on the same date, the Philippines is among the five founding members of the ASEAN bloc. Represented by Narciso Ramos, the country shared the same dedication as its fellow founding members in promoting unity and stability within the region. Today, the Philippines continues to benefit from ASEAN membership, particularly through regional cooperation that has helped ease long-standing issues such as the Sabah conflict with Malaysia.
4. Singapore (1967)
Despite being the smallest member of ASEAN by land area, Singapore stands as one of the organization’s founding members. Beyond its commitment to safeguarding regional peace and political stability, the city-state has long regarded ASEAN as the cornerstone of its foreign and economic policy.
5. Thailand (1967)
As the host nation for the signing of the ASEAN establishment declaration, Thailand completes the list of the five founding members of the regional bloc. Remarkably, the drive to promote regional stability and cooperation came from a nation that had never been colonized.
6. Brunei Darussalam (1984)
Shortly a week after gaining full independence from the United Kingdom, Brunei officially joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984. The nation’s entry strengthened ASEAN’s economic and political framework, especially in energy cooperation, given Brunei’s status as one of the region’s major oil producers.
7. Vietnam (1995)
Vietnam became the seventh member of ASEAN on July 28, 1995. The country’s admission marked a major step in healing the post-war divisions of Southeast Asia. Gradually, Vietnam transformed its role from a raw member to an active, contributing one, as seen from assuming the role of ASEAN chair in 1998, 2010, and 2020.
8. Laos (1997)
On July 23, 1997, Laos officially joined ASEAN alongside Myanmar. With it being a landlocked country, Laos viewed ASEAN membership as a gateway to broader regional cooperation and development opportunities.
9. Myanmar (1997)
Alongside Laos, Myanmar entered ASEAN on the same date. Despite facing international scrutiny, ASEAN’s acceptance of Myanmar was rooted in the principle of regional solidarity and non-interference.
10. Cambodia (1999)
After experiencing years of political instability, Cambodia officially became ASEAN’s tenth member in 1999. Its inclusion completed the vision of uniting all Southeast Asian nations under one regional organization. During its two tenures as ASEAN Chair in 2002 and 2012, Cambodia successfully guided the bloc to adopt the Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea.
11. East Timor (2025)
The newest and eleventh member, East Timor, formally joined ASEAN on October 26, 2025. Marking the bloc’s first expansion since the 1990s, this milestone represents a new chapter in ASEAN’s history.
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