Timor-Leste Inclusion into ASEAN and Its Consequences on Border Governance

This paper aims to examine the potential consequences of Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN on the country’s border governance. Timor-Leste officially became the 11th member of ASEAN in October 2025. This inclusion may reshape Timor-Leste’s future border management practices, as many ASEAN frameworks are closely linked to border-related governance. Based on a literature review, this paper highlights that Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership is likely to lead to a more open border governance system facilitating the cross-border movement of people and goods, influence the settlement of border disputes in accordance with the norms established in the TAC and the ASEAN Charter, and strengthen cross-border cooperation through subregional frameworks. The study provides an assessment of the extent to which membership in regional cooperation can transform a country’s border governance landscape.