Programs

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

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Featured Analysis

Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Issue Brief Apr 28, 2025

Modernizing the tools of economic statecraft to meet the challenges of today

By Lesley Chavkin, Eitan Danon, Kimberly Donovan, Andrew Gallucci, and Caroline Hill

As the current administration revisits the functions and mechanics of government, near-term steps can be taken, under existing statutory authorities, to modernize how the United States uses its economic strength to combat national security threats and promote American interests.
Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Fast Thinking Apr 22, 2025

Is the global economy headed for a reset, recession, or both?

By Atlantic Council

The International Monetary Fund has just released its latest World Economic Outlook. Atlantic Council experts dig into the details.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Fast Thinking Apr 10, 2025

What to expect as Trump’s trade war zeroes in on China

By Atlantic Council

On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced that he would suspend many of his “liberation day” import tariffs—but he raised the tariff on China to 145 percent.
China Economy & Business
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

New Atlanticist Apr 7, 2025

The IMF is a good deal for the US. Here’s how Trump can help make it even more effective.

By Elizabeth Shortino

The institution provides the United States a significant source of economic leverage, helps prevent financial crises, and serves as a counterweight to China’s influence.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

New Atlanticist Mar 31, 2025

Dispatch from Hong Kong: How the ‘geoeconomic city’ is weathering global headwinds

By Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

From Chinese and US economic growth to stablecoin regulations, a recent visit to Hong Kong offered important insights for two Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center experts.
China Digital Currencies
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

EconoGraphics Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database: November 2024

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the restrictive economic measures Western allies have placed on Russia and evaluates whether these measures are successful in achieving the stated objectives.
China East Asia

In-Depth Research

In the News Nov 15, 2024

Avoiding Entanglement: G20 Responses in a Taiwan Crisis report cited by the Wall Street Journal on how China would respond to trade restrictions from the West

Read the full article here
Brazil China
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Report Oct 22, 2024

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

After a year of war, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring countries need a permanent ceasefire. But with development gains erased, billions of dollars in infrastructure damaged, and skyrocketing unemployment, the Middle East also urgently needs a solid reconstruction plan.
Conflict Israel
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Report Oct 9, 2024

End of the line: The cost of faltering reforms

By Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

The China Pathfinder project examines whether China’s economy is converging or diverging with the world’s leading open market economies.
China Digital Policy
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Issue Brief Sep 20, 2024

Toward a financial inclusion agenda for the global majority

By Nicole Goldin

Policymakers, investors, and innovators must advance a new financial inclusion agenda designed for the global majority.
Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Report Sep 9, 2024

Sharing the post carbon economy means building a resilient EV supply chain

By Sarah Bauerle Danzman

In this report Sarah Bauerle Danzman advances the policy discussion by compiling trade, investment, and EV industrial policy data across the G20, and offers six recommendations to the G20 to build a resilient EV supply chain.
Brazil China
Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

Report Jun 7, 2024

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

By John E. Herbst, Olga Khakova, Charles Lichfield

Rebuilding the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s full-scale invasion will be a monumental task. Reconstruction can’t wait for peace and must be a well-coordinated, inclusive process.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Read the latest from the GeoEconomics Center

Econographics

Jun 6, 2025

The search for safe assets

By Hung Tran

The deterioration of the US fiscal outlook has put international investors, especially foreign central banks, in a quandary. There is no good alternative to US Treasuries as safe reserve assets.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jun 6, 2025

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

By Charles Lichfield

Japan is in a geopolitically challenging neighborhood and is witnessing the basic tenets of its foreign policy—from alignment with the United States to fostering a rules-based environment—come under unprecedented stress.

East Asia Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2025

Even as courts step in, Trump still has plenty of tariff options. US trading partners should intensify negotiations.

By Brian Janovitz

Section 301 may entail more work for the White House, but it could provide a relatively straightforward pathway to broad-based tariffs.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
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Content

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Ashford in Fortune: Banks are stopping Putin from tapping a $630 billion war chest Russia stockpiled before invading Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On March 3, Emma Ashford was quoted in Fortune on government reserves of foreign currency. “Foreign reserves are a government’s holdings of gold, foreign debt, and foreign currency, which is usually denominated in the world’s most popular coins—dollars, euros, pounds, yen, and yuan. Although a country can hold foreign reserves in its own banks, governments […]

Eastern Europe Economic Sanctions

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Friendlander quoted in CNBC on the unprecedented nature of Western sanctions against Russia

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

CBDC tracker cited in the South China Morning Post

Read the full article here

China Economic Sanctions

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

CBDC tracker cited in CNBC

Read the full article here

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Zarazinski in The Washington Post: Crypto industry says it is complying with Russian sanctions, as some policymakers ring alarms
Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

empowerME’s event on fintech’s influence in MENA was featured in Al-Monitor

By Atlantic Council

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Lipner in Foreign Policy: Israel Needs to Make Up It’s Mind on Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2022

Ecuador is a test case for how the US can counter Beijing’s influence in Latin America

By Gabriel Alvarado

Ecuador's dealings in China highlighted just how important it will be for the United States to nurture its ties with governments that have shown an interest in cooperating with Washington.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Lipsky quoted in CNN Business on the uncertainty business face as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 3, 2022

Our research on the location of Russian central bank’s foreign exchange reserves featured in Axios

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Jonathan Corrado

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Korea

Fellow

Rabah Arezki

Distinguished Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Evi Fuelle

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Digital Policy Economy & Business

Staff

Enrique Millán-Mejía

Senior Fellow, Economic Development

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Americas Colombia

Fellow

Rza Aliyev

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Azerbaijani Central Asia

Fellow

Thomas Storch

Distinguished fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance
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Events

Online Event Tue, June 10, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Marine energy: Harnessing the power of the Atlantic
Africa Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance Renewables & Advanced Energy
Online Event Thu, June 12, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Why the UN’s Internet Governance Forum still matters twenty years on
Digital Policy Internet Internet of Things Technology & Innovation
Public Event Thu, June 12, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Beyond critical minerals: Capitalizing on the DRC’s vast opportunities
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Economy & Business Energy & Environment
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