Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

More and more economic activity is taking place in the shadows. Nonstate actors, from terrorist groups to cybercriminals, have turned to financial crimes to fund their operations. Meanwhile, autocratic states have resorted to illicit trade to evade sanctions and regulations. Democracies must work together, powered by new innovations in technology, to bring that activity into the light—and to an end.

Recent analysis

Programs and initiatives

Housed within the GeoEconomics Center, the Economic Statecraft Initiative (ESI) publishes leading-edge research and analysis on sanctions and the use of economic power to achieve foreign policy objectives and protect national security interests.

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.

Events

Experts

Content

Econographics

Feb 25, 2026

The US and Mexico need stronger financial cooperation to disrupt illicit financial flows

By Phil Lovegren

Killing cartel leaders grabs headlines, but lasting progress in curbing the illicit drug trade requires following the money. If the United States and Mexico truly want to tackle organized crime, they must deepen cooperation to disrupt the financial flows that sustain it.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

Econographics

Nov 13, 2025

How the US can balance Qatar’s mediation role with the fight against terrorist financing

By Lesley Chavkin

Qatar has achieved an outsized role on the global stage, but the spotlight has come with persistent scrutiny of the tiny Gulf country’s efforts to counter the financing of terrorism.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2025

With Petro and Trump at odds, what’s next for the US-Colombia relationship? 

By Jason Marczak

Amid the current US-Colombia tensions, both countries should remind themselves of how important this relationship is for their shared security, economic, and geopolitical goals.

Americas Colombia

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2025

Five charts that show the challenge of countering Mexico’s criminal organizations

By Aaron Kolleda

Washington's broader campaign to eliminate criminal organizations is a challenging one, since these organizations have become so deeply embedded in Mexico.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

In the News

Aug 18, 2025

Tannebaum interviewed by BBC on Trump-Putin summit stakes and sanctions options if progress is not made

Watch the full interview here

Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Aug 18, 2025

Donovan quoted in Reuters on US ‘secondary tariffs’ and trade negotiations with India and China

Read the full article here

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2025

Five charts that show how criminal organizations in Colombia work—and grow

By Aaron Kolleda and Isabel Chiriboga

Our experts break down the numbers that show the reach, power, and influence of drug cartels and other transnational criminal organizations.

Americas Colombia

Econographics

Jul 29, 2025

Safeguarding Uyghur human rights: The US should leverage economic statecraft tools to end Uyghur forced labor

By Nazima Tursun

Through sanctions and the adoption of anti-forced labor legislation, the United States has led the global effort to combat China’s forced labor practices. While these measures have moved the needle in the fight against forced labor, widespread tariffs and the absence of new punitive measures targeting forced labor may cause progress to stagnate.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 21, 2025

Nikoladze and Donovan cited in Centre for International Governance Innovation report on digital privacy, assets, and decentralization

Read the full report here.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

In the News

Jul 10, 2025

Donovan quoted in Bloomberg on the US use of sanctions against Mexican banks

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

Experts