US, Nov. 13 -- A conflict thousands of kilometres away can delay a shipment at an Indian port, increase the cost of transporting goods from a factory and eventually make everyday products more expensive for consumers.

This is the reality of an interconnected global economy, where geopolitical tensions no longer remain confined to national borders. They travel through shipping routes, supply networks, and international markets, affecting businesses that may have no direct connection with the conflict itself.

The continuing instability in West Asia and disruptions to important maritime routes have exposed a fundamental weakness in global supply chains: the world has become highly efficient at moving goods, but not always equally prepared...