G20 Pittsburgh Summit 2009

Historical Event Info

Image courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, President Barack Obama talks with Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., Sept. 25, 2009. (P092509PS-0395)

G20 Pittsburgh Summit 20092009

The G20 (short for Group of 20) is an intergovernmental forum composed of most of the world's largest economies which encompasses 19 sovereign nations and the European Union. Formed in 1999, the goal of the G20 is to address issues related to the global economy and has had an annual summit, hosted by a member state, every year since 2008.

The 3rd G20 heads of government meeting was hosted by the United States of America, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 24th through 25th, 2009. The location of the summit was selected to highlight the economic recovery and growth that was occuring in Pittsburgh.

During the summit, President Obama was the first United States President to chair a UN Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament. The summit was also used by President Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to make a public statement accusing Iran of constructing a secret nuclear facility near Qom.