Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Financial sanctions and other forms of economic coercion have become policy tools of choice for the US government to deter illegal activity by international actors or to pressure governments into reversing actions that harm US interests. Yet these instruments and their potential pitfalls are often misunderstood. Restrictive economic measures such as financial sanctions, export controls, tariffs, and investment screening can play an important role in advancing certain policy objectives, but they risk being ineffective if misapplied or poorly implemented. Policymakers must also recognize the impact of economic statecraft on the private sector, which bears many of the compliance burdens and operational costs associated with these measures.

Energy Sanctions Dashboard

This dashboard focuses on US sanctions and restrictive measures placed on crude oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela—including the unintended consequences and the lessons learned.

Econographics

Apr 17, 2025

Russia Sanctions Database

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Lize de Kruijf

The Atlantic Council’s Russia Sanctions Database tracks the level of coordination among Western allies in sanctioning Russian entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft, and shows where gaps still remain.

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

Recent analysis

Horodyskyy in European Pravda: Protection from Orbán: how Trump “suspended” the future of Russian assets and what the EU plans to do

Econographics Sep 16, 2025

The Supreme Court’s decision on Trump tariffs will have lasting impact on US economic statecraft

By Stephanie Connor

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, the case will shape US economic policy for years to come.
Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
Horodyskyy in European Pravda: Protection from Orbán: how Trump “suspended” the future of Russian assets and what the EU plans to do

New Atlanticist Mar 28, 2024

The axis of evasion: Behind China’s oil trade with Iran and Russia

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze

Beijing has developed a way to import Iranian and Russian oil while bypassing the Western financial system and shipping services.
China Economy & Business
Horodyskyy in European Pravda: Protection from Orbán: how Trump “suspended” the future of Russian assets and what the EU plans to do

Testimony Feb 21, 2025

Kimberly Donovan testifies to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the Axis of Autocracy

By Kimberly Donovan

On February 20, Economic Statecraft Initiative Director Kimberly Donovan testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission at a hearing titled, “An Axis of Autocracy? China’s Relations with Russia, Iran, and North Korea.”
China Economy & Business

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.

Learn more

Content

In the News

Feb 25, 2025

Horodyskyy in European Pravda: Protection from Orbán: how Trump “suspended” the future of Russian assets and what the EU plans to do
Conflict Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Feb 25, 2025

Will a new Russia reset prove more successful than earlier attempts?

By Leah Nodvin

The Trump administration is seeking to reset relations with Russia as part of a comprehensive shift in US foreign policy, but successive past Russia resets have ended in failure, writes Leah Nodvin.

Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Testimony

Feb 21, 2025

Kimberly Donovan testifies to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the Axis of Autocracy

By Kimberly Donovan

On February 20, Economic Statecraft Initiative Director Kimberly Donovan testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission at a hearing titled, "An Axis of Autocracy? China's Relations with Russia, Iran, and North Korea."

China Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Feb 20, 2025

Trump and Putin seek economic reset but businesses may not rush back to Russia

By Edward Verona

As the Trump administration seeks to reset relations with Russia as part of a peace process to end the war in Ukraine, Moscow is pushing the idea of increased economic cooperation, writes Edward Verona.

Conflict Corruption

In the News

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by the Australian National University on Wagner Group’s profits

Read the full article here

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

Economic Statecraft Initiative

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by RUSI on Wagner’s business model in Syria and Africa

Read the full article here

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion General Africa

Op-Ed

Feb 13, 2025

Tannebaum in The Kyiv Independent on the potential for economic statecraft measures in the Russia-Ukraine war

By Daniel Tannebaum

Read the full article here

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

Econographics

Feb 11, 2025

Securing energy independence: The US path to resilient enriched uranium supply chain

By Mikael Pir-Budagyan

One critical challenge for the United States in the energy security space is the sourcing of enriched uranium that fuels nuclear reactors across the country, vital for the energy transition away from fossil fuels.

Americas Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 11, 2025

Global China Hub nonresident fellow Hanna Dohmen in South China Morning Post

By Hanna Dohmen

On February 7th, 2025, South China Morning Post published an article referencing Global China Hub nonresident fellow Hanna Dohmen’s testimony for the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the effectiveness of export controls in slowing China’s AI advances.

Artificial Intelligence China

UkraineAlert

Feb 6, 2025

Ukraine can play a key role in Europe’s future energy architecture

By Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the need for Europe to pursue greater energy flexibility and connectivity, writes Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska.

Conflict Economy & Business
Load More

Experts

Staff

Nitansha Bansal

Associate Director

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Fellow

Ryan Berger

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Cybersecurity

Fellow

Chris Brummer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Fellow

Michael Carpenter

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center Europe Center

Eastern Europe National Security

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Claire Chu

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
Load More