Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

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

GeoEconomics Center mentioned in Business Recorder about Ajmal Ahmady event

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
GeoEconomics Center mentioned in Business Recorder about Ajmal Ahmady event

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
GeoEconomics Center mentioned in Business Recorder about Ajmal Ahmady event

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

Sep 12, 2021

GeoEconomics Center mentioned in Business Recorder about Ajmal Ahmady event

By Julia Friedlander, Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 12, 2021

GeoEconomics Center mentioned in Insider about Ajmal Ahmady event

By Julia Friedlander, Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 12, 2021

Slavin quoted in NPR on the future of the JCPOA

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Sep 12, 2021

Daragahi quoted in Express on President Biden’s need to figure out what he wants in Iran

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

In the News

Sep 10, 2021

GeoEconomics Center mentioned in AFP about Ajmal Ahmady event

By Julia Friedlander, Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2021

Afghanistan’s ex-central bank chief: The Taliban has money to ‘run an insurgency but not a government’

By Dan Peleschuk

At an Atlantic Council event, Ajmal Ahmady discussed how the Taliban must govern a country short on cash and mired in multiple crises.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2021

Sanctions alone won’t tame the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

The United States and its allies will need to wield both existing and new sanctions as strategically as possible, but changing the regime's behavior will be difficult.

Afghanistan Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Sep 8, 2021

Friedlander quoted by Wall Street Journal about Biden’s embrace of economic sanctions

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Sep 7, 2021

Slavin quoted in Tehran Times on the American view of the Iran deal

By Atlantic Council

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

In the News

Sep 4, 2021

Slavin joins Al Hurra to discuss the Iran nuclear deal and Vienna negotiations

By Atlantic Council

Arabic Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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Experts

Fellow

Stephanie Connor

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

Fellow

Jonathan Corrado

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Korea

Staff

Lize de Kruijf

Program Assistant, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Dutch Economy & Business

Board director

Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky

Vice Chair, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Latin America China

Fellow

Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Fellow

Edward Fishman

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Russia Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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