Key facts
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will miss the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok.
- Domestic engagements are cited as the reason for Bessent's absence.
- Deputy Treasury Secretary Francis Brooke and Under Secretary Erin Browne will lead the US delegation.
- US officials will focus on policies to boost growth and address sovereign debt issues.
- Bessent is expected to attend the G20 leaders summit in Miami in December.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the upcoming annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand, due to domestic commitments, a US official confirmed on Friday. Deputy Treasury Secretary Francis Brooke and Under Secretary for International Affairs Erin Browne will represent the Treasury Department at the high-profile financial gathering.
US officials stated that the delegation will work with international partners to address policies and structural imbalances hindering global growth, and will advocate for greater transparency and more effective approaches to sovereign debt management. Bessent's absence occurs as benchmark Treasury yields have reached multi-decade highs and global growth is impacted by the ongoing energy shock from the Middle East.