Enlargement of ASEAN

One common concern that must be addressed through negotiations is the ability of a prospective member to participate in ASEAN Free Trade Area and all other economic co-operation arrangements.

One important means of orientation for a prospective member is its attendance at ASEAN meetings and participation in co-operation projects.

The Bangkok Declaration lays down no conditions for membership other than location in Southeast Asia and the usual principles of inter-state relations.

ASEAN has no membership criteria related to the character of government, ideological system and orientation, economic policy, or level of development.

The five foreign ministers: Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand are considered as the organisation's Founding Fathers.

During the 28th meeting, Myanmar acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and applied for observer status.

In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus[20] composing the then-members of ASEAN and the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and in the Asian region as a whole.

[25] During the 29th AMM in 1996, PNG Foreign Minister Kilroy Genia proposed that Papua New Guinea be accorded permanent associate membership with ASEAN.

[26] PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare stated during his visit to the Philippines in 2009 that his country was considering applying for full membership.

Although located no farther away from ASEAN's Jakarta headquarters than northern Myanmar, PNG is usually considered to be outside Southeast Asia according to Wallace line and thus ineligible for membership.

[29] In March 2011 Timor-Leste submitted a membership application to ASEAN,[30] a move which was supported by Indonesia, its former colonialist turned partner-ally, and the Philippines, its only Catholic ally in Asia.

[31] Timor-Leste gained its independence in 2002, and from the following year took part in the Southeast Asian Games, a multi-sport event associated with ASEAN.

[33] Lack of consensus has prevented ASEAN from arriving at decisions on observer status for Timor-Leste and its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

[36][needs update] In November 2022, following the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, the organization issued statement agreeing "in principle" to East Timor's membership, granting East Timor observer status at high-level meetings and stating that a roadmap to full membership would be submitted in the 2023 summit.

[50] In February 2018, independent think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute recommended that Australia seek ASEAN membership by 2024.

[55] In February 2018, independent think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute recommended that Australia and New Zealand should join ASEAN by 2024.

He then argued that the United States should try to persuade Thailand to push for observer status for Palau during its chairmanship of ASEAN.

[58][59] In July 2023, Serbia's accession request to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia was unanimously approved.

[60] In 16 September 2024, The Serbian parliament formally requests for an associate membership in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), citing historical cooperation in the Non-Aligned Movement.

[55] In September 26 2024, The Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made these comments before departing from New York, where he attended and delivered a speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly.