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

Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

Econographics May 29, 2025

After partial relief, what’s next for Syria sanctions?

By Alex Zerden

Syria remains a high-risk jurisdiction due to years of conflict, endemic corruption, state institution collapse, narcotrafficking of captagon, insufficient anti-money laundering efforts, and inadequate financing of terrorism controls.
Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

Sinographs Jun 2, 2025

Hong Kong highlights China’s policy of decoupling from US financial markets

By Jeremy Mark

The political benefits of an international financial center with Chinese characteristics will outweigh the pain that decoupling inflicts on China’s private sector.
China Economy & Business
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

What’s the Trump administration’s dollar strategy? It depends on who you ask.

By Alisha Chhangani

Within the White House, there appear to be competing and fractured views of the dollar’s role. This dissonance could result in harm to the currency’s long-term dominance.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

Issue Brief 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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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
Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

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

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 30, 2025

Less investment, less influence: Why the US risks losing ground in the Indo-Pacific

By Lize de Kruijf and Nazima Tursun

The US withdrawal of foreign aid to Indo-Pacific countries creates space for China to expand its influence in the region.

Defense Policy Economy & Business

Econographics

Jun 23, 2025

From trade wars to capital wars: Section 899 could rattle global capital markets

By John Satory

Section 899 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act plans to tax certain foreign investors, testing investor confidence in America’s financial leadership and market stability.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
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Content

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2021

Could China become the Taliban’s new benefactor?

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Niels Graham

Beijing is eyeing major investments in Afghanistan—but it's up to the Taliban to ease its concerns about security.

Afghanistan China

In the News

Aug 23, 2021

Charai in The Hill: Refugees can be a step toward redemption for Afghanistan failures

By Atlantic Council

While the chaos of the sudden US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been unpopular, the United States can redeem itself by providing humanitarian assistance for all Afghans without exception, says Ahmed Charai.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Aug 23, 2021

They aren’t listed, but make no mistake: The UN has sanctions on the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

As the militant group settles in to rule Afghanistan again, sanctions remain one of the only viable points of leverage for the international community. Here's what the UN's own rules say.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 23, 2021

Kamal Alam quoted in ummid: “Zalmay Khalilzad”: The man responsible for destruction raging across Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 23, 2021

Roberts quoted in The Independent on China’s ongoing crackdown on its tech and private enterprises

On August 23, Dexter Tiff Roberts was quoted in an article in The Independent that discussed Beijing’s recent crackdowns on China’s technology industries and the CCP’s intentions behind these actions. Roberts argues that “China’s top leadership believe they can rein in the excesses of big tech companies by calling a sudden halt of IPOs (making […]

China Economy & Business

EconoGraphics

Aug 23, 2021

IMF delivers fiscal firepower

By Niels Graham and William Howlett

On August 23 the IMF released a historic $650 billion allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

Inclusive Growth International Financial Institutions

In the News

Aug 21, 2021

Roberts quoted in The Guardian on Beijing’s new regulation policies aimed at its tech billionaires

On August 21, Dexter Tiff Roberts was quoted in an article in The Guardian that discussed new Chinese regulations across its education and technology industries, whose contributions to China’s economy are far bigger than many of its state-owned firms. Roberts acknowledges that Xi Jinping’s recent moves on the tech sector was foreseen by many, explaining […]

China Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 20, 2021

Nooruddin joins DW to discuss the US, NATO, and the situation in Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Conflict

AfricaSource

Aug 20, 2021

De-risking and transforming institutional capital for impact in Africa: A conversation with Admassu Tadesse and Morten Elkjær

By Africa Center

Mr. Admassu Tadesse, president and CEO of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), and Mr. Morten Elkjær, vice president for the financial sector and business development at the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), to discuss de-risking and transforming institutional capital into greater impact in Africa for attractive returns.

Africa Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 20, 2021

CBDC Tracker cited in Financial Times

By The GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here. Explore the CBDC tracker here.

Digital Currencies United States and Canada
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Experts

Fellow

Eric V. Guichard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Corruption

Fellow

Daniel P. Erikson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Economy & Business International Organizations

Fellow

Robert Fardi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Israel

Fellow

Alyson Claire Decker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Economy & Business Space

Fellow

Afaq Hussain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Staff

Jessie Yin

Assistant Director, GeoEconomics Center

GeoEconomics Center

China Chinese
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Events

Online Event Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs
Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union