War, Strike & Political Risk Cargo Insurance

Protection for cargo exposed to war zones, civil unrest, labour strikes, piracy, embargoes and political instability.

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SPECIALIST COVER FOR HIGH-RISK ROUTES & GLOBAL INSTABILITY

  • WAR ZONE RISKS

  • STRIKES & LABOUR ACTION

  • PIRACY & TERRORISM

  • POLITICAL UPHEAVAL

What Is War, Strike, and Political Risk Cargo Insurance?

This specialist form of cargo insurance protects your goods against losses resulting from war, civil unrest, terrorism, labour strikes, riots, piracy, confiscation and political interference.

Standard cargo policies exclude these risks - meaning businesses operating in unstable or sensitive regions require dedicated cover to protect their supply chains.

It is essential for freight forwarders, international traders, NGOs, defence contractors and manufacturers exporting to volatile or sanctioned markets.

What Does War, Strike & Political Risk Insurance Cover?

Protection against conflict, disruption, government action and politically motivated loss.


  • War risks (on land, sea or air routes)
  • Civil war, uprising, revolution or insurgency
  • Labour strikes, port blockades & industrial action
  • Riots, looting & politically motivated vandalism
  • Terrorism, sabotage & malicious acts
  • Seizure, confiscation or forced abandonment
  • Piracy (maritime & inland waters)
  • Failure of state authorities to protect cargo
  • Delays caused by political unrest (extensions apply)

Common Exclusions


  • Trading with fully sanctioned countries (unless approved)
  • Willful misconduct by the insured
  • Nuclear incidents or radioactive contamination
  • Unseaworthy or unsafe vessels (if knowingly used)
  • Poor or inadequate packing
  • Financial default of suppliers

Why Choose Insure24 for War, Strike & Political Risk Cover?


  • Specialist cover for volatile regions & high-risk commodities
  • Support navigating global sanctions and compliance
  • Market-leading insurers with conflict-risk expertise
  • Policies tailored to route, cargo and security profile
  • Rapid documentation for urgent or emergency shipments

“Our supply chain runs through unstable regions. Insure24 secured specialist cover that gave us total confidence to continue trading.”

James T., International Trading Director

Cargo insurance by location

Businesses reviewing war, strike and disruption exposures often also want local support once they move into route risk, values and quote discussions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Does a standard cargo policy include war or strike cover?

No. War, strike and political risks are normally excluded from standard cargo policies and must be added via specialist cover.

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Are shipments to sanctioned countries covered?

Cover depends on the level of sanctions, licensing and insurer approval. Some regions may be excluded entirely without government exemptions.

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Does the policy cover piracy?

Yes - piracy is typically covered under War Risk extensions for maritime transport.

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Can this cover be added to an existing cargo policy?

Yes - most businesses add War & Political Risk extensions to complement their standard cargo insurance.

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Are delays caused by unrest covered?

Some delays caused by political unrest may be covered if specific extensions are purchased, but standard cover excludes non-physical loss.

Related Cargo Guides

War and strike extensions should be reviewed alongside exclusions, international transit, delay exposure and higher-risk cargo routes.

Related Cargo Guides

Use these pages when a war and political-risk enquiry needs connecting back to route structure, exclusions and the wider cargo buying journey.