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.

Content

Econographics

Mar 18, 2022

Internationalization of the Renmibi via bilateral swap lines

By Hung Tran

Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has triggered unprecedented sanctions being imposed by the US, Europe and other countries on various Russian entities. The most important measure so far is denying the Russian central bank access to most of its international reserves held in major world currencies.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Mar 17, 2022

Central Bank Digital Currency tracker cited in Betakit regarding Bank of Canada’s collaboration with MIT

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business European Union

AC Selects

Mar 17, 2022

AC Selects: War in Ukraine: Perspectives from the UK, Sweden, Venezuela, and US

Week of March 11, 2022 Last week, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde joined us for two #ACFrontPage events, followed by a conversation with commander of US Space Command General James H. Dickinson and Venezuela experts to discuss the social, economic, and geopolitical impacts of Russia’s war in […]

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 16, 2022

Lichfield quoted by CNN Business discussing the Russian aviation industry

Read the full article here.

Crisis Management Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 16, 2022

Slavin quoted in the Middle East Eye on Iran nuclear deal obstacles amidst Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Nuclear Deterrence

In the News

Mar 15, 2022

Grieco in Responsible Statecraft: Biden under pressure to do things that will only escalate Russia-Ukraine violence

By Atlantic Council

On March 15, Kelly Grieco authored an op-ed in Responsible Statecraft on the steps the Biden administration can take to promote a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine and avoid escalation.  “The pressure to act in the coming days will be enormous. Harrowing images of Ukrainian suffering will stir public conscience, and the calls […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 15, 2022

Manning in VOA: U.S. Treasury sanctions confirm Russia’s involvement in North Korean missile development… “We need to focus on shutting down North Korea’s overseas procurement network.” [translated from Korean]

By Atlantic Council

On March 15, Manning was interviewed by VOA about North Korea’s procurement of components for missiles and the need to crack down on their international sourcing of materials. “Manning pointed out that the issue of North Korea’s overseas procurement network is not receiving enough attention. ‘The sanctions on Russians who have been facilitating the North […]

China Defense Technologies

In the News

Mar 15, 2022

Lipsky interviewed by BBC on Russia’s possible default on foreign debt payment

Listen to the full interview here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

UkraineAlert

Mar 15, 2022

Vladimir Putin has nothing but bad options in Ukraine

By Doug Klain

After three weeks of military setbacks Putin now faces the choice of escalating his Ukraine war further and risking his own downfall or seeking a face-saving exit from a conflict that has united the world against Russia.

Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Mar 14, 2022

Slavin quoted in Tehran Times on potential economic opportunities for Iran through the JCPOA

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Experts