Amid an “increasingly conservative” Southeast Asia, its membership would grant the relatively more-progressive Indonesia an “ally” in the association, analysts suggest, although Dili would still need Jakarta’s assistance to cushion its limited economic prowess.

Recent weeks have seen Timor Leste begin to hit its diplomatic stride to establish a more solid presence within Southeast Asia’s premier organization, from its historic debut appearance as observer at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) earlier this month to Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak’s talks with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Bogor Palace on Monday.

During the bilateral meeting, Jokowi reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to cooperating with Timor Leste, stating that border disputes with Dili in the Noel Besi-Citrana and Bidjael Sunan-Oben regions would soon be resolved so as to smoothen the road for future cooperation.

The roadmap for Timor Leste’s full membership to ASEAN was also in the works, Jokowi said, noting that he was glad about its in-principle admission to the 10-nation bloc.

Jokowi’s expression of content may well go beyond sheer politeness, experts have suggested, as there were notable incentives for Jakarta to lend a helping hand in the ASEAN admissions process. The association, some say, was becoming increasingly conservative and Dili’s strong pro-democracy stance could help Jakarta’s similar stance during regional negotiations.

“Helping Timor Leste can help Indonesia prove to itself that it is a mature state, one that can enjoy good relations with a country it was previously in conflict with,” said Randy Nandyatama, a senior fellow at Gadjah Mada University’s (UGM) ASEAN Studies Center, on Tuesday.

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