IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings Address Global Growth Risks Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Rates

The 2026 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, are addressing significant global economic risks, including the widening Middle East war, energy supply shocks, and rising interest rates. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga highlighted these factors as posing daunting challenges to global economic growth. IMF research released on October 12, 2026, indicates that sharp spikes in food and energy prices are increasingly driving inflation expectations higher and threatening economic stability.