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Little-known ASEAN is quietly expanding with Timor-Leste set to join later this year, and other nearby countries being floated for membership too. In this video, we’re going to explain what ASEAN is, the role it plays on the world stage, and the challenges it might face going forward.
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ASEAN history and integration:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-asean
ASEAN statistics:
https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ASEAN-Key-Figures-2024.pdf
ASEAN’s response/divisions over Myanmar and South China Sea:
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/escaping-asean-paralysis-myanmar
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/14/myanmar-shows-asean-centrality-is-weakening/
https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/asean-ministerial-meeting-July-2024-shows-deepening-internal-rift-over-priority-issues
https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/asean-issues/
Timor-Leste president on difficulty of joining ASEAN:
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/easier-to-enter-heaven-than-asean-says-timor-leste-president
Timor-Leste joining ASEAN:
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/timor-leste-asean/
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/timor-leste-joins-asean/
Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2025:
https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/FITW_World_2025_Feb.2025.pdf
ASEAN’s ‘developmental divide’:
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/asean-s-new-developmental-divide
Potential for further expansion:
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-wants-papua-new-guinea-to-join-asean-but-there-are-obstacles-in-the-way
https://www.observerbd.com/news/487525
00:00 – Introduction
00:58 – Background
01:46 – Integration & Success
02:56 – Challenges
04:46 – Timor-Leste Accession
07:35 – Further Accession
08:11 – Sponsored Content
