Atlantic Council at the G20

History of the G20

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation. Founded in 1999 after a series of crises rippled through the global economy, the G20 originally served as a platform for finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss the governance of an increasingly globalized world economy and promote financial stability.

During the global financial crisis in 2008, the G20 was elevated to a leaders level summit, and took swift, coordinated action was taken to rescue the global economy. Past G20 summits have resulted in landmark agreements including the creation of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in 2009.

In 2026, the US will chair the G20 for the first time since 2009. As the chair, the US is prioritizing three core themes: unleashing economic prosperity by limiting regulatory burdens, unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains, and pioneering innovations in AI and emerging technologies.

 

 

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At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Content

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2023

China and private lenders are blocking a solution to the global debt crisis. The G20 must step in.

By Vasuki Shastry and Jeremy Mark

The international community must apply pressure so that China and private-sector lenders join in facilitating a collective haircut that includes all lenders.

China Economy & Business

Blog Post

Feb 17, 2023

State of the Order: Assessing January 2023

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Europe & Eurasia

Blog Post

Jan 13, 2023

State of the Order: Assessing December 2022

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Europe & Eurasia

Blog Post

Dec 13, 2022

State of the Order: Assessing November 2022

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Europe & Eurasia

Inflection Points

Dec 4, 2022

Autocratic setbacks offer Biden his ‘inflection point’ for democracies

By Frederick Kempe

This year has been a tough one for the world’s worst authoritarians: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

China Conflict

In the News

Nov 18, 2022

Graham interviewed for the CNA938 World Report on the G20 and US-China relations

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Nov 15, 2022

Lipsky quoted in USA Today on how President Biden will navigate relationships with world leaders at the G20 summit

Read the full piece here.

Economy & Business G20

In the News

Nov 14, 2022

Research on G20 sanctions cited in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

Nov 14, 2022

Memo to the G20: The fierce urgency of food security

By Peter Engelke

The G20 must have the foresight and courage to embrace innovative and transformative solutions to the challenge of global hunger.

G20 Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Nov 13, 2022

Lipsky quoted in the AP on the G20’s functionality

Read the full article here.

G20 Politics & Diplomacy

Experts