Timor-Leste Participates for the First Time as a Full Member of ASEAN at the ASEAN-Australia Forum
Milena Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs and Timor-Leste’s Leader at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (ASEAN–Timor-Leste SOM Leader), led the national delegation to the 38th ASEAN–Australia Forum, held in Sydney, Australia, on May 12th and 13th, 2026. 
This marked Timor-Leste’s first participation in this Forum as a full member of ASEAN, following the country’s accession to the regional organisation in October 2025.
The Forum was co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia, represented respectively by Michelle Chan, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australia’s High-Level Representative to ASEAN, and by Ina H. Krisnamurthi, Director General for Cooperation with ASEAN and Indonesia’s Lead for the ASEAN High-Level Representatives’ Meeting.
The meeting brought together high-level representatives from ASEAN and Australia to review progress in ASEAN-Australia relations and discuss the future direction of cooperation, in the year marking the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the Forum, participants discussed the implementation of the ASEAN–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan for 2025–2029 and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The discussions also covered areas of cooperation on regional peace, stability, and prosperity; rules-based trade; resilient supply chains; food and energy security; and the strengthening of the ASEAN-led regional architecture.
