US Treasury's Bessent to skip IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not participate in the upcoming annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand. The Treasury Department stated that Deputy Treasury Secretary Francis Brooke and Under Secretary for International Affairs Erin Browne will represent the US at the event, which will focus on pressing economic issues.

The absence of Bessent, who has been advocating for domestic economic policies ahead of the US midterm elections, may disappoint foreign counterparts who often utilize these meetings to establish bilateral connections. The decision not to attend is attributed to Bessent's domestic engagements, though the specific commitments have not been disclosed.

Despite Bessent's absence, the US delegation remains committed to addressing debt issues, pushing for transparency, and advocating for more effective strategies in managing sovereign debt at the IMF and World Bank. The Treasury Department emphasized that their participation aims to advance US economic and national security interests through the international financial institutions.