Tensions remain high in Albania and France, to name but two nations. For insurers the risk of civil unrest is ever present;
Beazley’s latest Spotlight on Geopolitical and Economic Risk 2026 report, based on a survey of 3,500 global business leaders, shows how businesses are having to adapt to a world where disruption is a permanent feature as political uncertainty, trade tensions and competition for critical resources are limiting growth opportunities and curtailing profitability.
Alongside these challenges, businesses also reported these growing concerns:
- 77% expect to change suppliers or supply chains in response to ongoing geopolitical disruption.
- 41% rank economic slowdown, inflation, recession and sovereign debt among their top three risks, up from 34% in January 2026.
- 91% agreed that workforce related risks including access and retention of talent, cost of employment and mental health challenges were a concern, up from 76% in January 2026.
- 44% ranked cybersecurity – including systemic and third-party system outage – as a top three risk, up from 38% in January 2026.
- 75% agreed that the diversity and complexity of global regulations is increasing risk for their business.
The findings show geopolitical and economic uncertainty is increasingly shaping business investment, trade and operational decision-making. As firms adapt to a world where disruption is no longer an occasional challenge but a permanent feature of doing business, they are prioritising resilience, adaptability and strategic flexibility over efficiency alone.
However, while greater optionality can help preserve continuity and support short-term resilience, efforts to reduce exposure in one area can shift dependencies elsewhere, creating new vulnerabilities and operational challenges.
As organisations seek to remain adaptable in an increasingly uncertain operating environment, 35% plan to invest in technology and AI to strengthen resilience, compared with 29% planning to invest in insurance alongside risk and crisis-management services.
Paul Bantick, Chief Underwriting Officer at Beazley, said: “In this era of constant disruption, trusted insurance partners have never been more valuable. Combining deep risk expertise with proven claims expertise, they help organisations to anticipate emerging threats, prepare for and recover faster when disruption occurs. No business can predict every event, but those that understand the depth of their critical dependencies and are prepared to respond quickly to change, will be better placed to trade, invest and seize growth opportunities despite today’s ongoing uncertainty.”
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