As the Trump administration dismantles foreign assistance, many in the development space are wondering when the government’s attention will turn to the World Bank.
Experts say that withdrawing from the bank is very unlikely and wholly unadvised, but possible. If the U.S. did, however, there’s a chance that the headquarters, which were established in Washington, D.C. on June 25, 1946, could move.
The World Bank’s headquarters must be located in the country that is the largest shareholder, according to World Bank rules. Right now, Japan is the next largest donor to the bank, but by a wide margin — the U.S. has 17.5%, while Japan has 7%. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom round out the top 5 donors.