G20 finance ministers and central bank governors met in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, with the global economic outlook clouded by uncertainty due to the US-Israel war with Iran. The meeting, held concurrently with the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, is expected to be dominated by discussions on the economic impact of the Iran war. Attacks in the Middle East have disrupted economic activity, and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have led to a surge in global energy prices, with crude oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel for most of the past eight months. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers called for an end to the Middle East conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stating its critical importance to the global economy. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that rising debt levels pose a threat to the global economy. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on the IMF to strengthen its analysis and engagement on the role of non-market policies and exchange rates in driving external imbalances.