With just two months remaining until the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) kicks off in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, senior leaders from the island nation and the Commonwealth Secretariat have held critical high-level consultations to lock in last-minute preparations, align on unaddressed priorities, and boost cross-party coordination ahead of the November 1–4 summit.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration E.P. Chet Greene led his country’s delegation in talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, a gathering that comes as the host nation enters the final stretch of planning for the landmark gathering of Commonwealth leaders. The dialogue covered every dimension of summit readiness, from organizational logistics to core substantive policy agendas, flagging outstanding issues that require targeted attention ahead of the opening of the summit.
A central focus of the meeting was previews of planning for two high-stakes ministerial gatherings that will run alongside the main CHOGM event: the 27th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) and the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS). Minister Greene received detailed updates on the development of both meetings’ agendas, key policy themes being advanced, and ongoing coordination requirements as the November date approaches.
Discussions also touched on follow-up actions from the 26th CFAMM, held earlier this year. The 27th CFAMM, scheduled to take place during CHOGM 2026, will give foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth a critical space to deliberate on core shared policy priorities and refine the Commonwealth’s substantive agenda ahead of heads of government deliberations.
Particular focus was placed on preparations for CMMSS, a gathering that carries special weight for host nation Antigua and Barbuda, which has a long track record of championing the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and small Commonwealth member states. The 2026 CMMSS will be co-chaired by Antigua and Barbuda and the Maldives, and will serve as a dedicated forum for small states to align their shared positions and advance their priority policy goals before heads of government begin their own discussions. Key issues expected to be centered at the meeting include climate and economic vulnerability, resilience building, improved access to development finance, and inclusive sustainable economic growth – all longstanding advocacy priorities for Antigua and Barbuda.
Joining Minister Greene at the talks were Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and National Focal Point for CHOGM 2026, and Caleb Gardiner, Third Secretary at the Antigua and Barbuda High Commission in London. High Commissioner Hill emphasized that consistent, ongoing engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the UK government, and other key partner stakeholders is foundational to delivering a successful summit.
Both Minister Greene and High Commissioner Hill stressed that the host nation is prioritizing both operational excellence and meaningful, lasting outcomes from the 2026 summit. Preparations are not only focused on smoothly hosting more than 50 heads of government and thousands of delegates, but also on fostering an environment where all member states can advance practical cross-national cooperation and deliver outcomes that deliver long-term value to the entire Commonwealth bloc.
The recent consultations with the Secretary-General have further cemented the close working partnership between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth Secretariat as both entities move through the final phases of preparation. The meeting forms part of a broader series of consultations being led by Minister Greene, designed to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda enters the November summit fully prepared not just as a host, but as an active leader in shaping a focused, relevant, and forward-looking agenda for the entire Commonwealth.