Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Economy & Business

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

Slavin joins Alaraby TV to discuss the challenges Raisi’s government will face

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

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

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.

By Atlantic Council

Arms Control Defense Policy

President Biden and Chancellor Merkel at a press conference at the White House.

UkraineAlert

Jul 27, 2021

Why is Biden letting Putin win?

By Diane Francis

Russia and Germany, enabled by a distracted and increasingly isolationist United States, trample Europe and ignore the wishes of Central and Eastern European and Baltic nation-states. What does the White House think it’s doing?

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Geopolitics & Energy Security

Testimony

Jul 27, 2021

Friedlander testifies to the House Committee on Financial Services regarding US leadership on central bank digital currency development

By Julia Friedlander

C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow and GeoEconomics Center Deputy Director Julia Friedlander testifies to the House Committee on Financial Services regarding central bank digital currencies.

China Digital Currencies

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 […]

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Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Energy Sanctions Dashboard

Russia Sanctions Database

Recent analysis

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

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

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

Programs

Content

Slavin joins Alaraby TV to discuss the challenges Raisi’s government will face

Slavin joins TRT World to discuss the likelihood of concessions made by President Raisi

Nasr quoted in the Monocle Minute: Cutting ties

Dagres joins Al Jazeera to discuss the challenges facing Iran’s new president

Mezran and Pavia quoted in L’indro on Tunisia’s democracy crisis

Slavin joins The World to discuss the stalling of Iran nuclear talks

Azodi joins VOA Persian to discuss Rouhani’s remarks about the withdrawal of the nuclear deal

Why is Biden letting Putin win?

Friedlander testifies to the House Committee on Financial Services regarding US leadership on central bank digital currency development

Kroenig and Ashford debate geopolitics and the Olympics

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Nitansha Bansal

Ryan Berger

Chris Brummer

Michael Carpenter

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Claire Chu

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