Issue No. 1: The Road to Doral

Welcome

The work happens in between

Summits make the headlines: the family photo, the closing press conference, the declaration. But much of the work behind them happens in the weeks before, at ministerial meetings and in the business and civil society groups that feed into the leaders’ agenda.

Between the Summits follows that work. Every week, it brings together what was discussed across the G7, the G20, COP, the B20, the W20 and APEC: who met, what they agreed, where they disagreed, and what comes next.

This first issue arrives at a busy moment. The United States holds the G20 presidency and will host the G7 in 2027. Türkiye hosts COP31 in Antalya, with Australia as President of Negotiations. China hosts APEC in Shenzhen. And the United Kingdom has named Manchester as the host city for the 2027 G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Every fact in this issue is drawn from official statements and published reporting, listed in the sources at the end.

Calendar

The Season Ahead

From Bangkok to Miami, the meetings on the calendar between now and the end of the year.

Cover story · G20 United States 2026

The Road to Doral

G20 finance ministers left Asheville without a communiqué. Leaders meet at Trump National Doral, Miami, on December 14–15.

Summit

21st G20 Leaders’ Summit

Where

Trump National Doral, Miami

When

December 14–15, 2026

G20 finance ministers and central bank governors met in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 31 and September 1. The meeting ended without a communiqué. Instead, the U.S. presidency issued a chair’s statement, agreed by all G20 members present except China, which objected to paragraphs 4, 10, 11 and 13. Those paragraphs covered risks to growth from disruption to energy, food, fertilizer and critical-mineral supply chains, including safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz; global imbalances and “non-market policies and practices”; and sovereign debt.

A narrower agenda

The U.S. presidency has set three priorities: removing regulatory burdens, unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains, and pioneering new technologies and innovation. Climate, development and sustainability, which featured under recent presidencies, are not among them. The finance track also includes work on debt transparency and debt restructuring.

The guest list

South Africa, which hosted the G20 in Johannesburg in 2025, has not been invited. President Trump said in November 2025 that South Africa would not be welcome, and its finance minister was barred from the April 2026 finance meeting.

As of late September, the invited guest countries were Azerbaijan, Finland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The Moscow question

On September 21, Bloomberg reported that President Vladimir Putin planned to attend Xi Jinping’s APEC summit and skip the G20. Two days later in New York, after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “We’ve invited President Putin to the G20.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow welcomed the invitation and would make a decision.

G20 by the numbers

Asheville to Miami, in Figures

The U.S. G20 presidency at a glance.

According to the British government, the G20 brings together 19 economies, the European Union and the African Union, accounting for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade and around two-thirds of the world’s population.

G20 United Kingdom 2027

Manchester to Host the 2027 G20

Leaders will meet at Manchester Central Convention Centre on November 27–28, 2027.

Venue

Manchester Central Convention Centre

Dates

November 27–28, 2027

Presidency

United Kingdom, from December 2026

The British government has confirmed that Manchester will host the 22nd G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 27 and 28, 2027, at Manchester Central Convention Centre. The United Kingdom takes over the G20 presidency from the United States in December 2026, and other locations across the UK will host G20 events during the year.

The UK last hosted the G20 summit in 2009, when world leaders meeting in London pledged an additional $1.1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs.

Why Manchester

The city has a close link to the man who will chair the summit. Andy Burnham was Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until he became Prime Minister on July 20, 2026, and in July he opened a No 10 North office in the city. ITV reported that work on hosting the summit in Manchester had begun before he took office.

“We’re proud to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Greater Manchester…”Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester

“It’s a huge honour to be chosen as the host city for the G20 and reflects the city’s growing international stature.”Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council

What the government says

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh said hosting the G20 in Manchester would be an opportunity to showcase some of the best of British communities. The government says it is determined that the summit and the year-long presidency “will benefit people in every part of the UK.”

B20 · Business 20

Business Comes to The Wharf

The B20 USA Summit takes place in Washington on November 9–11, with four task forces led by executives from Citadel, Dow, GE Vernova and Amazon.

Venue

The Wharf, Washington, D.C.

Co-chairs

Suzanne P. Clark & Ross Perot Jr.

B20 Sherpa

Kevin Brady

The B20 is the G20’s business engagement group. This year’s process, B20 USA, is led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Its co-chairs are Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber, and Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of Hillwood and the Perot Companies. Former Congressman Kevin Brady is the B20 Sherpa.

The Chamber’s stated aim is to “deliver business community recommendations directly to G20 leaders.” The task forces’ recommendations will be released ahead of the summit.

The task forces

The four task-force chairs were announced on July 16. They are joined by 34 co-chairs from 12 countries.

Economic growth

Ken Griffin, Founder and CEO, Citadel

Trade

Jim Fitterling, Executive Chair, Dow

Energy

Scott Strazik, CEO, GE Vernova

Innovation

David Zapolsky, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, Amazon

The Nasdaq bell

On September 1, B20 Sherpa Kevin Brady and Nasdaq Executive Vice Chairman Edward Knight opened the markets, joined by B20 and international business leaders, including delegates from Japan, the UK, Canada, the UAE, Mexico, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Côte d’Ivoire.

W20 · Women 20

Eight Themes for 2026

The United States took over the W20 presidency from South Africa on January 12, 2026. The troika is South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

1. 01Agriculture & Food Security
2. 02Care
3. 03Decent Work
4. 04Education, STEAM, Digital/AI
5. 05Entrepreneurship
6. 06Health — Advancing Women’s Health
7. 07Planet — Earth, Air, Water & Sun
8. 08Safety & Security

The Women 20, or W20, is the G20 engagement group focused on women’s economic empowerment. It was officially established in 2015, during Türkiye’s G20 presidency.

Under the 2026 U.S. presidency, the W20 has set out eight themes, shown above, ranging from agriculture and food security to education, STEAM, digital skills and artificial intelligence.

The troika

The W20 troika brings together the previous, current and next presidencies: South Africa, which led the W20 in 2025; the United States in 2026; and the United Kingdom, which takes over the G20 presidency in December.

COP31 · Antalya, Türkiye

Türkiye’s Season of Summits

Four months after the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7–8, Türkiye hosts COP31 in Antalya on November 9–20, with Australia as President of Negotiations.

Where

Antalya, Türkiye

Conference

November 9–20, 2026

Leaders’ summit

November 11–12, 2026

Türkiye hosts COP31 and holds its presidency. Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, is COP31 President. Australia is President of Negotiations, a role filled by Chris Bowen. The World Leaders Climate Action Summit takes place on November 11–12.

The pre-COP in the Pacific

Leaders’ events were held in Tuvalu and Fiji on October 5–6, followed by the ministerial pre-COP in Fiji on October 7–8. According to the think tank E3G, more than 4,000 people from over 100 countries took part.

Pacific leaders adopted the Taku Pakasoa Declaration: Strength in Unity on October 6. The declaration calls for keeping the 1.5°C limit within reach. It refers to:

• A Statement and Action Plan on Access to Climate Finance for small island developing states and least developed countries
• The Pacific Resilience Facility

Separately, Australia backed the Global Rooftop Solar Pledge, initiated by the Global Solar Council, which sets a target of 300 million solar homes by 2030.

How COP decides

COP decisions are adopted by consensus of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

APEC · China 2026

Xi in Washington, Shenzhen Next

President Xi Jinping made a state visit to the United States on September 23–25. China hosts APEC leaders in Shenzhen on November 18–19.

Meeting

33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

Where

Shenzhen, China

When

November 18–19, 2026

Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States began on September 23, when President Trump greeted him at Joint Base Andrews. A State Arrival Ceremony and a State Dinner at the White House followed on September 24, and on September 25 the visit closed at the National Archives.

Shenzhen’s theme

China’s theme for its APEC year is “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,” with three priorities: openness, innovation and cooperation. The APEC CEO Summit takes place on November 17–18.

The ministerial track

APEC digital and AI ministers met in Chengdu on July 23 and adopted the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement, known as the Chengdu Statement. Human resources development ministers met in Nanjing on September 21 and adopted a joint statement with an annex on harnessing artificial intelligence’s potential for employment.

Who attends

On September 21, Bloomberg reported that President Putin planned to attend the APEC summit and skip the G20 in Miami.

G7 · France 2026

A “G7 of Deeds”

G7 foreign ministers met in New York on September 21, three months after the leaders’ summit at Évian.

G7 foreign ministers met in New York on September 21, during the UN General Assembly. Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi took part, and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined the session on Ukraine. Ministers discussed Ukraine, including its grain exports through the Black Sea, as well as the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. On September 22 they issued a statement on Bab al-Mandab and navigational rights and freedoms.

At the Munich Security Conference in February, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said: “Don’t expect a G7 of words, but a G7 of deeds.” At Évian on June 15–17, leaders adopted a declaration on securing supply chains for critical minerals.

G7 · United States 2027

Washington Takes Both Chairs

The United States holds the G7 presidency in 2027 and will host the 53rd G7 summit; Évian was the 52nd. It is the first American G7 presidency since 2020, and it follows the U.S. G20 presidency in 2026, putting Washington in the chair of both groups in consecutive years.

The G7 presidency rotates in a fixed order—France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada—so each member hosts once every seven years.

Finance · IMF and World Bank

Next Stop: Bangkok

The 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, October 12–18.

The Annual Meetings bring together central bankers, finance ministers, private-sector executives, civil society and academics from the member countries of the IMF and the World Bank Group. This year they take place in Bangkok, Thailand, two months before G20 leaders meet in Miami.

Issues from the finance track

Energy and supply chains. The Asheville chair’s statement flagged disruption to energy trade and the need for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. China objected to that paragraph.

Imbalances. Paragraphs on global imbalances and “non-market policies and practices” were also among those China objected to.

Debt. The U.S. finance track includes work on debt transparency and restructuring processes.

Shipping. G7 foreign ministers issued a statement on Bab al-Mandab and navigational rights and freedoms on September 22.

Topic focus

Critical Minerals on the Summit Agenda

From Évian to Asheville, the security of critical-mineral supply chains has appeared in this year’s G7 and G20 texts.

On June 17 at Évian, G7 leaders adopted the “G7 Leaders’ declaration on securing supply chains for critical minerals.” The declaration sets up the G7 Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance, a non-binding arrangement.

At the G20, paragraph 4 of the Asheville chair’s statement listed critical minerals alongside energy, food and fertilizer among the supply chains facing disruption. China objected to that paragraph. One of the three U.S. G20 priorities is unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains.

“China is the dominant refiner for 19 of the 20 minerals analysed, holding an average market share of around 70%.”International Energy Agency, Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025

The IEA’s 2026 outlook adds that for gallium, graphite, manganese and rare earths, China accounts for more than 90% of global refined supply. China hosts the APEC leaders in Shenzhen on November 18–19.

Sources

Sources and Photo Credits