How Geopolitical Risks Reshape Global Supply Chains: Evidence from the Pandemic, Ukraine Crisis, and Red Sea Crisis

Abstract

For decades, the global supply chain operated on the principle of economic efficiency, creating highly connected yet vulnerable networks. The successive outbreaks of geopolitical risks—the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Red Sea crisis—have exposed the profound weaknesses of this model. Using secondary data and a comparative case study approach, this paper analyzes the impact of these three crises on global supply chain structures and operational strategies. The research finds that businesses have increasingly prioritized supply chain resilience over cost efficiency, driving trends toward supply chain diversification and digital transformation. Concurrently, governments have enhanced self-sufficiency through strategic reserves and industrial protection policies. The study further reveals the growing influence of political alignment and ethical standards in supply chain decisions. This paper will also provide critical insights for understanding the restructuring of global supply chains, economic security, as well as the future trajectory of globalization in the post-pandemic era.