IMF urges support for poorer nations facing high inflation, war spillovers

Low-income countries spend up to 14 percent of their revenue on debt repayments, IMF chief says.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warns of the impact of inflation, higher debt and rising oil and natural gas prices on the poorest countries on October 17, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand [Rungroj Yongrit/EPA]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has a responsibility to help poorer nations struggling with rising debt, high inflation and price shocks caused by war spillovers, the head of the global lender says.

Speaking as the IMF’s annual meetings in Bangkok wrapped up on Saturday, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said discussions with global policymakers showed both “optimism and worry”.

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“Optimism from the resilience of the global economy, the promise of AI, the dynamism of Asia,” Georgieva told reporters. “But AI is also recognised to be a source of worry and so are inflation, high levels of debt, wars, climate risks.”

Georgieva said vulnerable nations are missing out on the AI investment boom that is driving growth in richer countries while at the same time dealing with higher borrowing costs.

Higher global interest rates mean low-income countries now spend 8 to 14 percent of their revenue on debt repayments, up from previous years, she said.

“I can tell you that people everywhere, but especially in poorer countries, don’t like inflation. Inflation is like a tax on the poor,” Georgieva said.

The warnings came as low-income, oil-importing countries take the strongest hit from rising global energy costs. Prices have soared since February when the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran , leading to retaliatory strikes in the Middle East and disrupted oil and gas flows.

“Escalating conflicts ‌and trade tensions could further disrupt critical trade routes, exacerbate commodity price pressures, including in refined energy products, and worsen energy and food security,” said a statement issued by Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).

The IMFC is the main steering committee for the 191-member crisis lender.

IMFC Chairman and Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan addresses the IMF annual meetings with Georgieva in Bangkok on October 17, 2026 [Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo]

Debt relief and regional support

Georgieva said her organisation has a responsibility to help countries restructure debt if needed to assist with domestic resource mobilisation, bring in international finance and create conditions for private investment.

Such countries need to set spending targets that prioritise growth and protect the most vulnerable people, she said, adding that the IMF has a “relentless pursuit of more resources for low-income countries”.

“When we do our best, it translates into better lives for people,” she said.

Georgieva also said the IMF plans to back Iraq “very firmly” with a requested loan programme while talks with Lebanese authorities are making progress.

“We will get to Iraq both money and policy support,” she said. “In the case of Lebanon , we are in very intense discussions with Lebanese authorities. We have made significant progress towards the programme. We have still a bit more work to do together, and I’m confident we will be successful.”

国际货币基金组织总裁表示，低收入国家将高达 14% 的收入用于偿还债务。

国际货币基金组织总裁克里斯塔利娜·格奥尔基耶娃于2026年10月17日在泰国曼谷警告称，通货膨胀、债务增加以及石油和天然气价格上涨将对最贫穷的国家造成影响。[Rungroj Yongrit/EPA]

国际货币基金组织（IMF）负责人表示，该组织有责任帮助那些因债务上升、高通胀和战争溢出效应造成的物价冲击而苦苦挣扎的贫困国家。

国际货币基金组织（IMF）在曼谷举行的年度会议于周六闭幕之际，总裁克里斯塔利娜·格奥尔基耶娃表示，与全球政策制定者的讨论既展现了“乐观情绪”，也体现了“担忧情绪”。

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“全球经济的韧性、人工智能的前景以及亚洲的活力都带来了乐观情绪，”格奥尔基耶娃告诉记者。“但人工智能也被认为是一个令人担忧的问题，通货膨胀、高额债务、战争和气候风险也是如此。”

格奥尔基耶娃表示，脆弱国家正在错失人工智能投资热潮带来的增长机遇，而这股热潮正在推动较富裕国家的增长，与此同时，脆弱国家还面临着更高的借贷成本。

她表示，全球利率上升意味着低收入国家现在要将收入的 8% 到 14% 用于偿还债务，比往年有所增加。

“我可以告诉你，世界各地的人们，尤其是贫穷国家的人们，都不喜欢通货膨胀。通货膨胀就像是对穷人征税，”格奥尔基耶娃说。

这些警告发出之际，低收入的石油进口国正遭受全球能源成本上涨的沉重打击。自2月份美国和以色列对伊朗发动战争以来，油价飙升，导致中东地区发生报复性打击，并扰乱了石油和天然气的输送。

沙特阿拉伯财政大臣、国际货币与金融委员会（IMFC）主席穆罕默德·贾丹在一份声明中表示：“冲突和贸易紧张局势升级可能会进一步扰乱关键贸易路线，加剧包括精炼能源产品在内的大宗商品价格压力，并恶化能源和粮食安全状况。”

国际货币基金组织（IMFC）是拥有 191 个成员的危机贷款机构的主要指导委员会。

国际货币基金组织主席兼沙特阿拉伯财政大臣穆罕默德·贾丹于2026年10月17日在曼谷与格奥尔基耶娃共同出席国际货币基金组织年会。[Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo]

债务减免和区域支持

格奥尔基耶娃表示，她的组织有责任在必要时帮助各国重组债务，以协助国内资源调动、引入国际资金并创造私人投资条件。

她表示，这些国家需要制定优先考虑增长和保护最弱势群体的支出目标，并补充说，国际货币基金组织“不懈地为低收入国家寻求更多资源”。

“当我们尽力而为时，人们的生活就会变得更好，”她说。

格奥尔基耶娃还表示，国际货币基金组织计划“非常坚定地”支持伊拉克提出的贷款计划，同时与黎巴嫩当局的谈判也正在取得进展。

“我们将向伊拉克提供资金和政策支持，”她说。“至于黎巴嫩，我们正在与黎巴嫩当局进行非常深入的磋商。我们在推进该项目方面取得了显著进展。我们还有一些工作要做，但我相信我们最终会取得成功。”