Content

Issue Brief

Sep 22, 2025

Expanding Syria’s multilateral development bank engagement

By Basil Kiwan

Estimates of Syria’s post-civil war cost of rebuilding range from $250 billion to $400 billion. To help finance reconstruction and development, Syria’s transitional government should expand its partnerships with international financial institutions (IFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs), as these institutions can play a key role in mobilizing global capital.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2025

Leveraging Beijing’s playbook to fortify DFC for global competition

By Caroline Costello

A close look at Chinese development lending practices reveals lessons for the United States on why Chinese deals succeed—and fail—and how the United States should reform its own institutions.

Africa
China

Econographics

Jul 17, 2025

Charting a strategic path for Syria’s postwar reconstruction

By Kimberly Donovan, Jonathan Panikoff, Lize de Kruijf, Manal Fatima

As Syria emerges from over a decade of conflict, easing sanctions by the United States, the European Union (EU), and other European partners is an important step toward reintegrating Syria into the global economy. Yet, for a country that has been economically isolated for over fourteen years, lifting sanctions is only the beginning.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 30, 2025

Less investment, less influence: Why the US risks losing ground in the Indo-Pacific

By Lize de Kruijf and Nazima Tursun

The US withdrawal of foreign aid to Indo-Pacific countries creates space for China to expand its influence in the region.

Defense Policy
Economy & Business
Cranes atop a building. Dabust Soh/Unsplash

Issue Brief

Jun 9, 2025

Why Congress must reauthorize the US Development Finance Corporation

By Enrique Millán-Mejía, Martin Cassinelli

Congress has an opportunity to give the United States tools to create jobs at home and strengthen ties overseas. Updating the Development Finance Corporation and reauthorizing it before the October deadline are the first steps.

Americas
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2024

Women should play a central role in rebuilding Ukraine’s economy

By Melanne Verveer and Kimberly Donovan

Ukraine can only rebuild its economy if women and civil society are fully involved in its reconstruction efforts.

Civil Society
Corruption

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2024

Forging a positive vision of economic statecraft

By Daleep Singh

The United States must institutionalize how it uses economic tools in the context of today's great power competition.

China
Economic Sanctions
Grain market in Africa with sellers

Econographics

Feb 1, 2024

Why 2024 will be a big year for positive economic statecraft

By Nicole Goldin

As geopolitics cast a shadow on the global economy, leaders are looking to build resilience, advance inclusive growth, and promote stability and security. Three January events already showcase that these positive economic statecraft (PES) approaches are clearly in effect this year.

Fiscal and Structural Reform
Inclusive Growth
Image of the Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin, during a dramatic sunset. RudyBalasko via IStock

Report

Sep 20, 2023

The US, EU, and UK need a shared approach to economic statecraft. Here’s where to start.

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Nicole Goldin, Mrugank Bhusari, Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Ambuj Sahu, and Daniel McDowell

The economic statecraft landscape is becoming more complex as transatlantic partners increasingly leverage the tools to counter transnational threats. There is a growing need to understand how these tools are used, by whom, and when, as well as their intended and real impacts worldwide.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business