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

Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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
Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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 8, 2025

April, July, now August: Our expert guide to Trump’s latest tariff moves

By Atlantic Council experts

“Liberation Day” was nearly ninety days ago, and now the deadline for many nations to negotiate a trade deal and avoid US tariffs is extended to next month. Atlantic Council experts explain what’s behind the moving calendar.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
Stablecoins

Fintech Frontlines

Jul 8, 2025

Stablecoins are trending, but what frictions and risks are getting overlooked?

By Ashley Lannquist

Stablecoin usage is complex for consumers, and large-scale adoption could introduce new challenges for financial stability and regulatory oversight.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 7, 2025

Building BRICS

By Bart Piasecki

Fifteen years after its founding, BRICS has evolved into a formidable counterweight to Western dominance in global economic governance. Yet despite its growing influence, the bloc’s ability to translate bold rhetoric into concrete results remains uncertain.

Brazil China
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Content

In the News

Jul 23, 2021

Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

By Atlantic Council

On July 23, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they debate Olympic defection, the effectiveness of sanctions over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, democratic backsliding in Tunisia, the prospects for a […]

Belarus China

Issue Brief

Jul 23, 2021

A strategic framework for countering China’s human-rights violations in Xinjiang

By Jeffrey Cimmino

China is engaged in a systematic campaign of repression against predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China, and its actions call for a coordinated response on the part of the United States and its allies.

China Economic Sanctions
Informaition Defense

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 22, 2021

Information defense: Policy measures taken against foreign information manipulation

By Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer

A joint report from the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab and Europe Center on the policy measures government and private sector can take against foreign information manipulation.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Blog Post

Jul 22, 2021

China and Sub-Saharan Africa trade: A case of growing interdependence

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

China’s total merchandise trade with Sub-Saharan Africa has increased by 1864% since 2001. Its increased presence in the region not only increases its access and influence, but also poses significant economic and security risks for the US and EU.

China East Africa

In the News

Jul 22, 2021

Friedlander quoted in Reuters on evasion of oil sanctions

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

China Economic Sanctions

In the News

Jul 22, 2021

CBDC tracker cited in InvestorPlace

By The GeoEconomics Center

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

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 22, 2021

CBDC tracker highlighted in Axios Markets newsletter

By The GeoEconomics Center

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

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 22, 2021

CBDC tracker featured in Yahoo News

By The GeoEconomics Center

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

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 22, 2021

CBDC tracker highlighted in Axios

By The GeoEconomics Center

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

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

SouthAsiaSource

Jul 22, 2021

A vision for a green recovery of the Chhattisgarh economy

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and Swaniti Initiative host a conversation with Indian Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, H.E. Shri Bhupesh Baghel on his vision for a green recovery of the Chhattisgarh economy and India more broadly in the post-pandemic period.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Thomas Storch

Distinguished fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Leremy Colf

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Digital Policy Internet

Fellow

Reem Goussous

Nonresident senior fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Americas Arabic

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Inês Bravo Figueiredo

Co-President, Volt Portugal

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Staff

Bart Piasecki

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

Fiscal and Structural Reform International Financial Institutions
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Events

Public Event Thu, July 10, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on the future of US-Africa trade and security

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau joins the Atlantic Council while he is in Washington, DC for a summit between West African leaders and US President Donald Trump. 

North & West Africa Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Trade and tariffs
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