The Commonwealth Secretary-General's speech delivered at the launch of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2026, held in Antigua on 4 November 2025.
It is a deep honour to be here in Antigua and Barbuda — a nation whose beauty is matched by the warmth of its people and the strength of its leadership. I express my profound gratitude to the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda — to you, Prime Minister Browne and Mrs Browne, to the Governor-General and Lady Williams, and to all those working tirelessly behind the scenes — for picking up the baton from Samoa, the fantastic hosts of our last CHOGM, and for the energy, vision, and generosity you are bringing to this great Commonwealth enterprise.
As we launch the road to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, we begin a journey that will carry us to one of the most important gatherings in our Commonwealth’s modern history.
CHOGM is the high point of our Commonwealth calendar. It is the moment when our family of nations — 56 countries, one-third of humanity — comes together not simply to discuss the world’s challenges, but to shape its future. Each CHOGM is a reflection of its time — and the next one, in 2026, will be a turning point.
We gather at a moment of extraordinary global strain. The multilateral system is under pressure. Trust is fraying. Climate impacts are intensifying. Debt and inequality weigh heavily. And yet, amid all this turbulence, the Commonwealth endures — as a force for connection, for conscience, and for cooperation. That is why this CHOGM matters so deeply. Because the world needs what the Commonwealth offers: a spirit of fraternity that bridges divides; a platform where nations large and small, developed and developing, speak and act as equals; and a community that has always believed that progress for one must mean progress for all.
As we look ahead to St John’s 2026, we do so with a clear purpose — to make this CHOGM more decisive and impactful than ever before. And the theme selected by our hosts – Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth – offers us the platform to achieve that. It captures the spirit of partnership and enterprise that defines the modern Commonwealth. Because we are building bridges of opportunity between governments and business, between people and ideas, to deliver tangible results for our citizens.
This must be a summit of delivery: rooted in our shared plan, and focused on the issues that bind us — democracy, trade, climate action, and opportunity for all.
First, democracy — the Commonwealth’s beating heart. In every region, democracy is under strain, yet the Commonwealth’s commitment to it is unshakeable. We will work together to renew it — not only as a system of government, but a living reality in people’s lives.
Second, trade and investment — the lifeblood of prosperity. Our shared language, legal systems and trust mean that trade among Commonwealth countries is on average 21% cheaper. That is our Commonwealth Advantage — and my mission is to turn that advantage into growth, resilience, and jobs across all our regions. The road to CHOGM will therefore focus on building deeper trade and investment partnerships — especially those that unlock the potential of our small and vulnerable states.
Third, climate action — because no other issue will shape our collective future more profoundly. From here in the Caribbean to the Pacific, from Africa to the Arctic, Commonwealth nations are on the frontlines of climate impacts. We must stand together to mobilise finance, drive the clean energy transition, and protect the security and dignity of our people.
And fourth, opportunity — for our women, our young people, and our communities everywhere. A renewed Commonwealth must be a Commonwealth of inclusion — one that unleashes the ideas, energy and innovation of our 2.7 billion citizens.
Excellencies, this journey to CHOGM 2026 is also a journey of reform. We are modernising the way CHOGM works — to ensure that it delivers not just declarations, but decisions that make a tangible difference in the lives of our people.
I am determined that when leaders gather here, they will leave with a shared sense of achievement and a renewed commitment to stand and work together. And we could have no better host for that vision than this extraordinary country — a small island state with a large and generous spirit; a champion of climate resilience and sustainable development; and a steadfast voice for fairness, dignity and global partnership.
Prime Minister, Governor-General, Excellencies — through your leadership, Antigua and Barbuda is not only preparing to welcome the Commonwealth to your shores, but showing the world the very best of what the Commonwealth stands for: unity in diversity; service over status; and the power of small states to shape great outcomes. Because this is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action. With the imagination and ingenuity of a third of the world, whose extraordinary potential is more than equal to the challenges we face.
That is the modern Commonwealth. The Commonwealth we are building — together. A Commonwealth renewed in purpose, confident in its identity, and ambitious in its vision for the world. So, as we set out on the road to CHOGM 2026, let us do so with confidence. Confidence that our family of nations, grounded in history and bound by friendship, can continue to lead by example. Confidence that through partnership and reform, we can make our Commonwealth a beacon of practical cooperation in a divided world. And confidence that when leaders arrive here next year, they will find not only the beauty of Antigua and Barbuda, but the spirit of a Commonwealth ready to rise to its greatest calling.
May the road to CHOGM be a journey of renewal, of unity, and of shared purpose.
