As the UK prepares to assume the G20 presidency next year, the government faces decisions on how to leverage the forum to address global security and economic challenges.

The UK is set to take over the presidency of the G20 next year, placing Andy Burnham in a central role to guide the forum of the world's largest economies. While Burnham has expressed a focus on domestic policy, the upcoming leadership role requires setting priorities for the group amidst global instability. The UK last held the presidency in 2009, a year marked by significant collective action regarding the global financial crisis.

Proposed Global Priorities

The UK's potential agenda for the G20 includes four primary areas requiring international cooperation. First, the government could pursue a global treaty on the regulation of artificial intelligence to address existential risks and establish technological security. Second, the presidency could focus on food security, addressing the combined impacts of the El Niño weather pattern, climate change, and rising costs for diesel and fertilizer that threaten global agricultural yields. Third, the agenda may address climate insecurity by seeking coordinated measures to improve resilience and provide support to vulnerable nations, acknowledging that extreme weather events have increased the urgency of adaptation. Finally, the UK could advocate for a debt restructuring program for low- and middle-income economies, as rising global interest rates have made current debt burdens unsustainable for many nations.

Institutional Challenges of the G20

The G20 is often described as a weak institution, lacking a permanent headquarters, dedicated staff, or a standing website. Its history of achievement is limited, with many summits producing only broad, lowest-common-denominator agreements. Notable exceptions include the 2009 fiscal stimulus and the 2020 suspension of debt for developing countries during the Covid pandemic. Host nations often use the presidency to project influence, though the effectiveness of these summits varies significantly depending on the political climate and the willingness of member states to cooperate.