In today’s volatile global environment, geopolitics and business strategy are inseparable. Supply chains are no longer passive conduits of commerce, they have become the battlegrounds of state influence, economic power, and national security.
As UDSS Co-Chair General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE remarked during a keynote to Swiss startups earlier this year:
“In a multi-polar world defined by war, trade conflict, and technological rivalry, your business strategy is now a geopolitical strategy.”
That message features prominently in a recent article by Fernando Moncada Rivera for Sifted: “Startups must bake geopolitics into their supply chain strategy.” The piece explores how global supply chains — from shipping and logistics to digital infrastructure and manufacturing — are increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.
From attacks on maritime routes in the Red Sea to trade disputes and cyber disruption, the supply chain has become the stage upon which international competition is played out. For businesses and investors alike, understanding this shifting terrain is now critical.
The article highlights how companies like Transvoyant, founded by former Lockheed Martin executive Dennis Groseclose, are helping businesses monitor and predict geopolitical risks across thousands of operational “nodes” — ports, factories, bridges, and transport hubs — to anticipate disruptions before they escalate.
The conclusion is stark but timely:
Businesses can no longer treat geopolitical risk as a remote concern or a tail-end variable in their ROI calculations. It must be built into corporate strategy, boardroom planning, and investor due diligence from the outset.
At UDSS, this intersection of defence, security, and commerce lies at the heart of our work. Our global network of experts supports governments, defence partners, and industries to understand and adapt to this new reality — where national resilience and commercial success depend on strategic foresight.
Read the full article here: https://globalventuring.com/corporate/overview/startups-must-bake-geopolitics-into-their-supply-chain-strategy/
Universal Defence and Security Solutions Ltd (UDSS) provides independent expertise across defence, security, and strategic resilience. With over 700 former senior leaders from government, military, and industry, UDSS helps organisations interpret and act upon the complex security challenges of a rapidly changing world.