IEA, World Bank, IMF, and WTO Issue Joint Warning on Global Energy Crisis Risks

Four international agencies — the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, and World Trade Organization (WTO) — have highlighted the impact of the Middle East conflict on global energy supplies, trade, and economic stability. In a joint statement released after a meeting on Thursday, 28 May 2026, the leaders of the four organisations stressed that the ongoing conflict has triggered significant pressure on global energy markets. According to the IMF’s official website on Monday, 1 June 2026, the agencies warned that the Middle East conflict could deepen economic vulnerabilities in many countries, particularly energy-importing and low-income nations. Previously, in April 2026, the IEA, IMF, and World Bank established a coordination group to align responses to the conflict’s impact on the global energy sector and economy. The joint statement described the conflict’s effects as “substantial, global, and highly uneven”. Countries reliant on energy imports are identified as the most vulnerable to price surges and supply disruptions. Further consequences for employment, economic activity, and public welfare are also major concerns. The agencies assessed that prolonged uncertainty could worsen global economic prospects, which are currently struggling to maintain recovery momentum. Although the global economy remains resilient, the four organisations cautioned that the conflict’s pressures would disproportionately affect nations with limited fiscal space and high dependence on energy and raw material imports. The Middle East conflict has caused significant disruptions to global energy supply chains. In a prior statement issued in April 2026, the IEA, IMF, and World Bank even described the war as triggering one of the largest energy supply shortages in the history of global energy markets. This impact was reflected in recent spikes in energy prices following the escalation of hostilities.