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

Slavin in InkStick: The Iran deal is in limbo

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
Slavin in InkStick: The Iran deal is in limbo

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
Slavin in InkStick: The Iran deal is in limbo

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

Apr 28, 2022

Slavin in InkStick: The Iran deal is in limbo

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

In the News

Apr 28, 2022

Friedlander quoted in NPR on sanctions imposed on Russia as the ultimate test for the future use of the tool

Listen to the episode here.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

BelarusAlert

Apr 27, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War leaves Lukashenka with nothing but bad options

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has gone against Belarusian public opinion and involved his country directly in Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Whoever now wins the war, his position will likely be weakened.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Apr 25, 2022

Wily Belarus dictator sees Putin’s war as an opportunity to end his isolation

By Alesia Rudnik

Wily Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is seeking to leverage his reluctant supporting role in Vladimir Putin's Ukraine War in order to revive relations with the Western world and end his international isolation.

Belarus Conflict

Britain Debrief

Apr 25, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What’s at stake in France’s Presidential Election? | A Debrief from Ambassador Gérard Araud

By Ben Judah, Gérard Araud

Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviews Ambassador Gérard Araud, former French Ambassador to the US and Senior Fellow, for #BritainDebrief to discuss how this election will impact France. What is France's role in NATO? What will happen to the European Union and France-Russia relations if Le Pen wins the election?

Arms Control Civil Society

Britain Debrief

Apr 25, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What world order comes after Ukraine? A Debrief with Patrick Porter

By Ben Judah

Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviews Patrick Porter, Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for #BritainDebrief to learn more about how modern alliances will change following the Russia's invasion. What will happen to Ukraine's neutrality? What dense web of complexity exists for alliances and sub-alliances in global security?

Australia China

In the News

Apr 24, 2022

Ashford in the Washington Post and Bloomberg: Does America’s foreign policy need to get real?

By Atlantic Council

On April 24, Emma Ashford was featured in a written interview by Bloomberg about her forthcoming book on energy and foreign policy.  “Prior to the invasion, the Biden administration did a relatively good job continuing to talk to Russia, trying to see if there was a way that this could be resolved other than conflict. […]

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Apr 22, 2022

Friedlander interviewed by the RUSI Suspicious Transaction Report podcast

Listen to the episode here.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Podcast

Apr 22, 2022

Episode 2: “Russia and the Arctic”

Mathieu Boulègue, Senior Research Fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, takes a closer look at Russia’s deep ties to the Arctic and its posturing in the region.

Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Apr 20, 2022

Ukraine reveals Russian military plans for “full-scale invasion of Belarus”

By Brian Whitmore

With Belarusians uneasy over their country's role in Putin's Ukraine War, Moscow may revive earlier plans for the military takeover of Belarus if growing anti-war sentiment threatens to undermine Russian influence.

Belarus Conflict
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