The IMF has survived Trump’s hostility toward global institutions. But at what price?

IMF Communications Officer Jose Luis De Haro, Director of the Research Department at the IMF Silvana Tenreyro, Deputy Director of the Research Department at the IMF Petya Koeva-Brooks and Division Chief at the Research Department of the IMF Deniz Igan attend a press briefing during the IMF/World Bank 2026 Annual Meetings at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, October 13, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Patipat Janthong

The people tasked with safeguarding the world’s financial stability are gathering in Bangkok, Thailand, this week. Central bankers, finance and development ministers, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and academics from nearly 200 countries are attending the IMF-World Bank’s annual meetings to discuss soaring public debt, the impact of the Iran war, rising oil and food prices, inflation, and the economic impact of AI.

But another issue is also worth watching: the IMF’s relationship with the United States. Read more