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

#BritainDebrief – Can Decarbonization Disarm Putin’s War Machine? A Debrief from Laurie Laybourn

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
#BritainDebrief – Can Decarbonization Disarm Putin’s War Machine? A Debrief from Laurie Laybourn

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
#BritainDebrief – Can Decarbonization Disarm Putin’s War Machine? A Debrief from Laurie Laybourn

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

Britain Debrief

Mar 12, 2022

#BritainDebrief – Can Decarbonization Disarm Putin’s War Machine? A Debrief from Laurie Laybourn

By Ben Judah

As European countries have reluctantly started to announce programs to be less reliant on Russian oil and gas, Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviews Laurie Laybourn, Visiting Fellow at the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator for #BritainDebrief.

Climate Change & Climate Action Conflict

In the News

Mar 12, 2022

Schultz in Washington Post on Americans’ support of Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Tammy Schultz explains why American citizens are willing to deal with higher gas prices to burden Putin in the on-going Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Mar 12, 2022

Friedlander interviewed by CNN on the ban on Russia oil and gas imports, along with other sanctions measures

Watch the full interview here.

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Mar 12, 2022

Friedlander quoted in Vox on the US and Western states responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with sanctions

Read the full article here

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Mar 11, 2022

Slavin joins Voice of America to discuss Russia’s role in impeding Iran nuclear talks in Vienna

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

In the News

Mar 11, 2022

Ashford on Intelligence Squared: Agree to disagree: Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On March 11, Emma Ashford featured in a debate organized by IQ2 with former Ambassador Kurt Volker on the conflict in Ukraine, which was distributed to all NPR affiliates. “Ukraine is undoubtedly an important country, a wonderful country full of wonderful people, but it is not strategically important to the United States or to our […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 11, 2022

Zais joins Al Hurra to discuss the impacts of the Russian invasion on Ukraine on global oil prices and alternatives to Russian oil

By Atlantic Council

Arabic Conflict

Report

Mar 11, 2022

Exploring humanitarian frameworks for Venezuela

By A report by the Atlantic Council's Venezuela Working Group

Policy brief led by the Atlantic Council’s Venezuela Working Group (VWG) that seeks to analyze the two existing oil-funded humanitarian proposals on Venezuela, and provide recommendations for future humanitarian proposals’ governance structure, financing mechanisms, transparency controls, political agreements, legal requirements, and multilateral participation to achieve the most optimal possible outcome for the Venezuelan people.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

UkraineAlert

Mar 10, 2022

Not just Putin: Most Russians support the war in Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

Many international commentators have pinned the blame for the Russian invasion of Ukraine solely on Vladimir Putin but the chilling truth is that an overwhelming majority of ordinary Russians also support the war.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Amb. Fried quoted in Politico’s West Wing Playbook newsletter regarding Ambassador Brzezinksi

Read the newsletter here

Crisis Management Defense Policy
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