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

O’Toole quoted in Bloomberg on the limited options for bondholders with cash stuck in Russia

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
O’Toole quoted in Bloomberg on the limited options for bondholders with cash stuck in Russia

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
O’Toole quoted in Bloomberg on the limited options for bondholders with cash stuck in Russia

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 1, 2022

O’Toole quoted in Bloomberg on the limited options for bondholders with cash stuck in Russia

Read the full article here.

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 30, 2022

Friedlander interviewed in BBC Ukrainecast on the dangers of imposing tougher economic sanctions on Russia.

Read the full article here.

Crisis Management Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 29, 2022

Manning in VOA: US experts say North Korea is more likely to resume missile provocations and nuclear tests

By Atlantic Council

On March 29, Manning was interviewed by Voice of America about North Korea’s procurement of components for missiles and the need to crack down on their international sourcing of materials. “Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, also told VOA that the possibility of North Korea’s further provocations and the resumption of nuclear […]

Defense Technologies East Asia

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2022

What the Baltic presidents want the West to do now against Russia

By Nick Fouriezos

Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian President Egils Levits, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, proposed a number of options to counter Russian aggression at an Atlantic Council Front Page event Tuesday.

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Mar 29, 2022

Sales in Fox News: Iran nuclear talks: Biden shouldn’t turn a blind eye to terrorism to secure deal

By Atlantic Council

Extremism Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Mar 29, 2022

Sales in Fox News: Iran nuclear talks: Biden shouldn’t turn a blind eye to terrorism to secure deal

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

BelarusAlert

Mar 29, 2022

Deep unease in Belarus over country’s role in Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Alesia Rudnik

Vladimir Putin is pushing Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka to join the invasion of Ukraine, but the war is deeply unpopular among Belarusians who fear direct participation will have catastrophic consequences.

Belarus Civil Society

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2022

Putin’s ruble ploy confirms that energy exports are his lifeline

By Charles Lichfield

Western allies can only 'reduce the ruble to rubble' by dramatically reducing oil and gas imports.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Mar 28, 2022

Friedlander quoted in Quartz on the unprecedented nature of the sanctions imposed on Russia

Read the full article here.

Corruption Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Mar 27, 2022

Russian energy embargo: Europe must stop financing Putin’s Ukraine war 

By Diane Francis

Naftogaz CEO Yuriy Vitrenko has accused European countries of funding Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and called for an immediate embargo on all Russian energy exports in order to stop the war.

Conflict European Union
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