ASEAN’s 2025 Enlargement: Significance and Challenges
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https://doi.org/10.66871/trf-j.v1i2.030##semicolon##
Capacity constraints, Economic development, Human capital, Inclusivity, Decision-making and Capacity building.सार
ASEAN’s planned expansion in 2025 with the accession of Timor Leste, represents an important milestone in Southeast Asia’s regional integration. It reflects ASEAN’s longstanding vision of regional unity and its commitment to bringing all Southeast Asian countries under a single institutional framework. Beyond its practical implications, the expansion carries strong symbolic value, strengthening ASEAN’s image as an open and inclusive organisation. This enlargement presents significant challenges for both Timor-Leste and ASEAN. Timor-Leste continues to face serious capacity constraints, particularly in economic development, infrastructure, and human capital, which may limit its ability to fully comply with ASEAN obligations. ASEAN, in turn, will need to adjust its institutions, decision-making processes, and support mechanisms to accommodate a new member without undermining organisational effectiveness. Balancing inclusivity with effectiveness will therefore be critical. While ASEAN’s 2025 expansion offers important opportunities to strengthen regional solidarity and cohesion, its success will depend on phased integration, targeted capacity-building, and sustained support from existing member states and external partners. The paper discusses the opportunities, challenges, and policy implications of ASEAN’s expansion, with particular attention to institutional adaptation and capacity-building needs.
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