War and high debt to dominate IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok

Finance officials from around the world will gather in Bangkok this week amid the ongoing Middle East war, the largest energy supply shock ever, and rising interest rates, all threatening global economic growth. The US-Israel conflict with Iran, now in its eighth month, and its inflationary impact will dominate the agenda of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, held outside Washington for the first time in three years. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva reported 18,000 attendees, 4,000 more than the last meetings in Morocco, but US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be absent, sending two senior officials instead.