{
  "id": 19983396,
  "title": "Timor-Leste gets 2029 Asean chair as bloc sticks to alphabetical rotation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/timor-leste-gets-2029-asean-chair-as-bloc-sticks-to-alphabetical",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T13:03:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/11/14/timor-leste-gets-2029-asean-chair-as-bloc-sticks-to-alphabetical-rotation/243289"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MANILA — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has decided that Timor-Leste will assume the role of chair for the organization in 2029, following Thailand, as per the alphabetical rotation, stated Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The decision was made during today's meeting after Timor-Leste and Myanmar expressed interest in becoming Asean chair for that year. \"Usually, we follow the alphabetical order. So, after Thailand, we will give it to Timor-Leste,\" he told Malaysian media following his attendance at Asean ministerial-level meetings. Mohamad mentioned that Myanmar's opportunity to chair Asean could be reconsidered after Vietnam's turn, based on special merit, but no decision had been made on the subject. He noted that any such consideration would be addressed when the time comes, while the alphabetical rotation system would continue for now. Mohamad also announced that Singapore would take the helm of Asean in 2028, followed by Thailand in 2029 and Vietnam thereafter. Simultaneously, three countries—Slovenia, Slovakia, and Cyprus—signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) on the same day, marking its 50th anniversary since its signing in 1976. Hasan noted that this demonstrates the strong interest of external countries in engaging with, forming ties, and cooperating with Asean member states. He added that Asean received applications from countries seeking to accede to the TAC, become sectoral dialogue partners, or upgrade their ties to full dialogue partner status, based on the added value they could contribute to Asean, including strategic and geographical factors, before the applications were forwarded to member states for review.",
  "summary": "MANILA, Nov 14 — The Asean Coordinating Council (ACC) has agreed that Timor-Leste will chair Asean in 2029, follow...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "ASEAN not easing Myanmar approach, bloc's special envoy says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/asean-not-easing-myanmar-approach-blocs-special-envoy-says",
        "published": "2026-11-14T12:35:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}