Foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) explored ways member countries can strengthen cooperation, promote shared interests and values, and respond to emerging global challenges.
The meeting was chaired by Everly Paul Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said discussions focused on challenges facing member countries, including hostile actions against member states and difficulties in securing funding for essential social programmes needed to build resilience and promote shared prosperity.
Foreign affairs ministers and heads of delegation received a report from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), chaired by Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Chris Fearne, covering its activities between 2024 and 2026.
They also received reports from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth of Learning, alongside updates from the four CHOGM forums: Business, People’s, Youth and Women’s.
During the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), themed “How can Foreign Ministers promote the Commonwealth’s shared interests and values in the current international situation?”, ministers examined ways to address the decline in development cooperation.
They also discussed ways to respond to unilateral actions against member countries and consider the impact of rapidly emerging technologies on resilience and shared prosperity.
They further discussed strengthening consensus-building and cooperation across international platforms, as well as promoting democracy and good governance to achieve economic and climate resilience across the Commonwealth.
The discussions formed part of the three-day CHOGM, which officially opened on November 2 and is scheduled to conclude on November 4, 2026, with a focus on strengthening long-term cooperation among member countries.