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

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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Issue Brief

Jun 1, 2022

Russia’s war on global food security

By Anders Åslund

Russia’s war on Ukraine has sparked sea changes in global politics on a historic scale. As the West grapples with how to move forward, addressing Russia’s culpability in exploiting a global food crisis—and mitigating the damage—is essential.

Central Europe Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2022

Don’t ignore the exchange rate: How a strong ruble can shield Russia

By Charles Lichfield

Western governments should remember: Relying on the medium- to long-term effects of sanctions gives Russia plenty of time to prepare.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

AC Selects

May 25, 2022

AC Selects: ACFrontPage Highlights: Kosovo and Ukraine talk Russia

Week of May 20, 2022 Last week, the Eurasia and Europe Center each hosted an #ACFrontPage event featuring Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak. The conversations examined Kosovo’s domestic and foreign policy priorities, and how the US and Europe could […]

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

May 24, 2022

Klain speaks with TICKER NEWS on being sanctioned by the Kremlin

By Atlantic Council

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Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2022

Russian aggression brings EU and US together on trade and tech in France. What comes next?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts break down the US-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting and what it means for the future of transatlantic tech and trade policy.

Digital Policy Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

May 18, 2022

Putin’s Black Sea blockade leaves millions facing global famine

By Andriy Zagorodnyuk

Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports is strangling the country’s economy and also threatening to spark a global food security crisis by preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports from reaching international markets.

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

May 18, 2022

Assistant Director Niels Graham quoted in World Trade Online on IPEF

By Niels Graham

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2022

Dashboard: Tracking the Western response to the war in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Explore the Atlantic Council's interactive trackers for how the world has responded by sending humanitarian and military aid, redeploying forces, and hammering Russia's economy.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

BelarusAlert

May 17, 2022

Putin’s only friend: Belarus is Russia’s last remaining post-Soviet ally

By Brian Whitmore

The recent CSTO summit in Moscow highlighted Russia's lack of support even within the former Soviet region while underlining Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's status as Vladimir Putin's last remaining ally.

Belarus Central Asia

In the News

May 14, 2022

Azodi quoted in Al-Monitor on Iran’s diplomatic options in the case of nuclear talk failure

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Geopolitics & Energy Security

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