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

Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia responding to SWIFT cutoff

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
Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia responding to SWIFT cutoff

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
Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia responding to SWIFT cutoff

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.

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Content

In the News

Feb 26, 2022

Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia responding to SWIFT cutoff

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 26, 2022

Friedlander quoted in Bloomberg on Russia’s removal from SWIFT and sanctions against Russian Central Bank

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Lipsky quoted in Bloomberg on Russia’s removal from SWIFT

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Ambassador Fried interviewed by ABC News on Russia escalating conflict

Watch the full interview here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

O’Toole quoted in Reuters on sanctions against Russian oligarchs

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Zarazinski quoted in POLITICO: Russia’s hidden tool to undermine sanctions
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Tran quoted in Reuters on oil and gas prices following Western sanctions

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Friedlander quoted in CNN on President Biden’s sanctions announcements

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 25, 2022

Friedlander interviewed by CNBC on Russia’s dark money

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Britain Debrief

Feb 24, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What can Britain do to help Ukraine? An Emergency Debrief from Tom Tugendhat, MP

By Ben Judah

As Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Senior Fellow Ben Judah spoke with Tom Tugendhat, MP, Chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee, on what Britain and its allies can do for a special emergency #BritainDebrief.

Conflict Crisis Management
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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
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