World Bank's Banga says unsure of US contribution to IDA, Trump dialogue constructive

Washington: World Bank President Ajay Banga said on Wednesday that he has had constructive discussions with the Trump administration about the development lender but added that he does not know how much the U.S. will contribute to the bank's fund for the world's poorest countries.

Banga told reporters that if the US were to not follow through on the $4 billion International Development Association (IDA) pledge from former president Joe Biden's administration last year and some European countries cut back their pledged funds, it could reduce the latest $100 billion IDA funding round to $80 billion or $85 billion. This would be still substantially higher than the pre-pandemic levels, he said.

"We're having a constructive dialog with the U.S. administration. I don't know where it'll end, but I've got no problem with the dialog I'm having," Banga said. "They're asking the right questions, and we're trying to give them the right answers."