Abstract: The article is devoted to the study of the relationship between the goals and plans of sustainable development, the problems of regulating the global economy, the trends of de-globalisation, the spread of protectionist policies and geopolitical conflicts, which contribute to the paradigm shift of global supply chains. The article provides a comprehensive overview of their evolution from traditional linear models to interconnected and flexible networks enabled by technological progress and deepening globalisation. The author outlines the current challenges and opportunities that are emerging in response to the changing dynamics of global trade caused by waves of de-globalisation, inflationary pressures and the resurgence of protectionist trade policies, in particular during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article shows how these challenges have necessitated a revision of traditional supply chain strategies and prompted the search for innovative risk management practices in a more uncertain economic environment, which is also characterised by trends in friend-shoring and the gradual completion of the stage of diversification of trading partners in supply chains in response to the growing disruption of global supply chains due to the pandemic. The aggravation of geopolitical conflict and the imperatives of sustainable development are identified as the main drivers of modern transformations of global supply chains. The article examines the issues of sustainable development and related legislative initiatives that necessitate the initiation and establishment of processes for responsible sourcing, minimisation of negative environmental impact and ensuring ethical labour practices throughout the supply chain. The author emphasises that in the practice of international business it is quite difficult to balance the desire for cost-effective supply chains with the need to meet increasingly stringent standards of sustainable development, which calls into question the possibility of achieving both goals simultaneously. At the same time, digital solutions are proving to be a promising way to overcome the problems caused by these challenges. The article explores the potential of technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and data analytics to ensure transparency, traceability and risk mitigation in supply chains. The transformational role of digitalisation in increasing the resilience and responsiveness of supply chains is emphasised. The author describes the disproportionality of threats faced by developing countries in the global economic space. The author emphasises the critical importance of recalibrating strategies and promoting wider stakeholder engagement to overcome the challenges and specific vulnerabilities faced by less developed economies and to develop solutions that will contribute to economic stability and growth in countries with different levels of development.