It’s within this context that policymakers must chart a course toward sustained growth. Among the medium-term priorities the IMF identifies—repairing public finances, addressing internal and external imbalances, and lifting trend growth—regional integration stands out as a key lever for resilience.

The world’s trading system, once a pillar of openness, is being reshaped by shifting alliances and new barriers. Smaller, export-dependent economies often find themselves disadvantaged, while larger and relatively less open ones—or those that control critical inputs to global supply chains—wield greater negotiating power. The global trade map reflects this imbalance:

As the visuals show, many of the biggest economies cluster as large but inwardly focused, while many smaller nations are more open to trade and rely on it more for growth, making them more vulnerable to changing conditions.

In response, many countries are seeking to build strength and find voice through cohesion. By joining forces in regional blocs, they gain scale and stability that no single economy can achieve alone. In an uncertain world, regional cooperation is not just a shield—it is a strategy for confidence and lasting prosperity.

This article draws on an October 17, 2025, speech, “Resilience in a World of Uncertainty,” by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.