Kristalina Georgieva‚ the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director shared her thoughts on the United States role in global finance institutions as the presidential election approaches. Speaking to Reuters‚ she expressed optimism about future US involvement regardless of the election outcome
Georgieva mentioned her positive experiences with past US administrations including Donald Trumpʼs. She praised the US for its pragmatic attitude and demanding nature as a shareholder of the IMF and World Bank. “The US is very pragmatic. It brings a can-do attitude. It is demanding‚ and I like that“ Georgieva stated
The IMF chief recalled collaborating with the Trump administration on significant projects:
- $13 billion capital increase for the World Bank in 2018
- Rapid COVID-19 relief financing during the pandemic
Looking ahead to next weeks IMF and World Bank annual meetings (10/24/24-10/27/24) Georgieva addressed concerns about potential changes in US leadership at these institutions. She expects both Trump and Kamala Harris to take a “very pragmatic“ approach if elected
Regarding trade restrictions Georgieva mentioned the IMFʼs efforts to understand the drivers behind increased protectionism in advanced economies. She emphasized the importance of analyzing costs and benefits to promote rational decision-making
Ajay Banga‚ the World Bank President‚ also weighed in on the topic. He highlighted the value of US leadership in international financial institutions pointing out how it can benefit US companies by developing new markets in poorer countries
As the US presidential election (11/5/24) draws near‚ the future of American involvement in global finance remains a key topic of discussion among world leaders