Gulf states better prepared for shock, while vulnerable nations need support
Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, left, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva attend a news conference by the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) in Bangkok on Oct. 17. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
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October 17, 2026 18:15 JST
BANGKOK -- The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has highlighted a divide between the region's vulnerable economies and those better prepared to withstand the turmoil, Saudi Arabia's finance minister said on Saturday.