#BTDavos2026 | From Rare Earths To EVs: How Geopolitics Is Redrawing Global Supply Chains

At BT Davos 2026, Siddharth Zarabi, Group Editor, Business Today, was in an in-depth conversation with Kimberley Botwright, Deputy Head of the Centre for Regions, Trade & Geopolitics at the World Economic Forum, focusing on global supply chains and geopolitical realignment. Botwright explained how concentration of supply, rare earth dependencies, and technology restrictions have disrupted sectors like electric vehicles, even for large economies such as India. She introduced the idea of “geopolitical distance,” highlighting how geopolitically aligned countries are trading more closely while mid-aligned economies like India, ASEAN, and Brazil keep options open. The discussion examined India’s growing role in reshaping global supply chains, evolving China-related risks, and why companies must build stronger geopolitical capabilities at the leadership level to navigate an increasingly complex global environment.