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

Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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 Regulation
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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
Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

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

May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV’s electors represented Catholics’ changing economic distribution

By Israel Rosales

While the direction Pope Leo XIV will take the Church is unclear at this early stage, he’s unlikely to reverse Pope Francis’s push to elevate voices from the Global South.

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

EconoGraphics

Apr 30, 2025

US-EU sanctions divergence would spell trouble for multinational companies

By Jesse Sucher

The fracturing of traditional alliances carries significant consequences for companies facing multijurisdictional compliance obligations, meaning an already complex situation will become more chaotic.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2025

Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman on how technology can be used to tackle financial crime

By John Cookson

Artificial intelligence and other new technologies are needed to address the problem of illicit funds in the global financial system, Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman told the Atlantic Council on April 25.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
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Content

In the News

Sep 20, 2019

Sultoon quoted in Reuters on Iran’s central bank sanctions

By Atlantic Council

Economic Sanctions Iran

Event Recap

Sep 19, 2019

Guinea’s president seeks expanded US investment

By Africa Center

On Thursday, September 19, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted H.E. Professor Alpha Condé, president of the Republic of Guinea. Atlantic Council Vice President and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham provided opening remarks and welcomed President Condé to the Atlantic Council. President Condé discussed Guinea’s ability to implement reforms and overcome challenges in […]

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Sep 19, 2019

Cohen in Forbes: China’s Giant $400 Billion Iran Investment Complicates U.S. Options

By Atlantic Council

China East Asia

Issue Brief

Sep 19, 2019

Secondary sanctions’ implications and the transatlantic relationship

By Samantha Sultoon & Justine Walker

The term secondary sanctions provokes strong reactions from allies and markets. Due to the power of the US dollar, breadth of the US market, and dominance of the US financial system, even the threat of secondary sanctions prompts many non-US companies to change their behavior to avoid the risk of such sanctions. Although this approach has furthered US policies, it has resulted in transatlantic political divergence and enhanced compliance uncertainty among private sector actors.

China Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Sep 18, 2019

The promise and peril of Ukraine’s borders

By Ruslan Minich

Many Ukrainians work abroad, and Ukraine’s western regions feel the labor shortage most acutely.

Economy & Business Migration

Event Recap

Sep 18, 2019

Côte d’Ivoire’s first lady objects to proposed US ban on Ivorian cocoa

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, September 18, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted H.E. Dominique Ouattara, first lady of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, for a private discussion on Ivorian efforts to eradicate child trafficking, exploitation, and labor from the cocoa supply chain. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest cocoa producer, with an annual production output of approximately […]

Africa Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 18, 2019

A transatlantic agenda for the new European Commission

By Benjamin Haddad, Jörn Fleck

The new European Commission will take office on November 1, 2019, at a time of intensifying great power competition and new strain for transatlantic relations. This memo gathers the contributions of several Atlantic Council experts on a variety of issues such as defense, foreign policy, trade, and energy policy

Cybersecurity Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 18, 2019

A transatlantic agenda for the new European Commission

By Benjamin Haddad and Jörn Fleck (Eds)

The new European Commission will take office on November 1, 2019, at a time of intensifying great power competition and new strain for transatlantic relations. This memo gathers the contributions of several Atlantic Council experts on a variety of issues such as defense, foreign policy, trade, and energy policy

Cybersecurity Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 18, 2019

Slavin in The American Conservative: Iran and the Poisonous Fruits of ‘Maximum Pressure’
Economic Sanctions Iran

UkraineAlert

Sep 17, 2019

Ukrainian business leaders want better economic policy and rule of law

By Anders Åslund

The fifteen principles reflect a broad reform consensus in Ukraine, aiming at creating well-functioning markets and strong private property rights.

Fiscal and Structural Reform Political Reform
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Tatiana Ellis

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business South & Central Africa

Advisory Council member

Tayte French Lutz

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business International Markets

Fellow

Colin Coleman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Tao Tan

Senior Managing Director

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

Millennium fellow

Stephen Kalin

Foreign Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Matthew Zubrow

Vice President, Hepco Capital Management

Millennium Leadership Program

Americas Economy & Business
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Events

Online Event Tue, May 13, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Rethinking US policy options in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Economy & Business Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy
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