Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

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

Katz quoted in Middle East Eye on Russia desire to see the deterioration of relations between the US and Middle Eastern allies

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
Katz quoted in Middle East Eye on Russia desire to see the deterioration of relations between the US and Middle Eastern allies

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
Katz quoted in Middle East Eye on Russia desire to see the deterioration of relations between the US and Middle Eastern allies

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.

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Content

In the News

May 27, 2021

Katz quoted in Middle East Eye on Russia desire to see the deterioration of relations between the US and Middle Eastern allies

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fast Thinking

May 25, 2021

FAST THINKING: Europe strikes back at Belarus

By Atlantic Council

Europe has imposed economic sanctions and restrictions on Belarusian planes, while US President Joe Biden has indicated that he will follow suit. What made Europe act with unusual swiftness and boldness?

Belarus Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2021

Belarus air piracy: How the world should respond

By Daniel Fried

Outrage at aggression should lead to action. The West has options for a civil-aviation response as well as new targeted sanctions.

Belarus European Union

In the News

May 24, 2021

Fontenrose quoted in Washington Examiner on how to avoid aid funding to industries from which Hamas could benefit

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Defense Policy

MENASource

May 24, 2021

The US sanctions regimen against the Assad regime is working. Here’s how.

By Peter Metzger

The US' targeted and tailored sanctions regimen not only give the US and its allies leverage toward a political resolution to the conflict, but so too do said designations hold together a de facto nationwide ceasefire throughout Syria.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Middle East

EconoGraphics

May 14, 2021

Global Sanctions Dashboard: April

By Julia Friedlander, Michael Albanese and Castellum.AI

UN sanctions, UK’s new anti-corruption authority, the Kremlin’s use of sanctions as a law enforcement mechanism.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

BelarusAlert

May 12, 2021

Time to sanction the Putin-Lukashenka “axis of autocrats”

By Brian Whitmore

Callings are growing for the international community to impose sanctions against the Putin-Lukashenka axis rather than just on the Belarusian regime.

Belarus Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

May 7, 2021

Fried in Foreign Policy: A New Sanctions Strategy to Contain Putin’s Russia

By Daniel Fried

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 7, 2021

Fried quoted in Bloomberg on how banks should approach doing business with US adversaries

By Daniel Fried

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

BelarusAlert

May 5, 2021

Belarus sanctions: Time to target Russia?

By Brian Whitmore

Can sanctions against Belarus be separated from sanctions against Russia? Or should sanctions against the two countries be treated as part of a coherent whole, effectively sanctioning the Putin-Lukashenka axis?

Belarus Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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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
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