The Economic Statecraft Initiative

Housed within the GeoEconomics Center, the Economic Statecraft Initiative (ESI) publishes leading-edge research and analysis on sanctions and the use of economic power to achieve foreign policy objectives and protect national security interests. Coercive and positive economic statecraft measures are increasingly used by the United States, European Union, and their allies and partners to address global challenges.

ESI convenes public events and private roundtable discussions to explore challenges and opportunities, providing policymakers and the private sector with unbiased data-driven analysis and actionable recommendations to shape economic statecraft solutions to global challenges.

The Economic Statecraft Initiative resides within the GeoEconomics Center, a translation hub at the nexus of economics, finance, and foreign policy with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Research and Analysis

Featured Report

The economic statecraft landscape is becoming more complex as transatlantic partners increasingly leverage economic power 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.

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2024

To help Georgians, the West must drive a wedge between Georgia and the Russia-China-Iran camp

By Maia Nikoladze

Despite strong support among Georgians for their country to join the European Union, the governing Georgian Dream party has taken big steps to break with the West in favor of the “axis of evasion.”

China European Union

Econographics

Nov 22, 2024

Sanctions expectations in a second Trump administration

By Daniel Tannebaum

Sanctions are poised to remain a cornerstone of US foreign policy under a second Trump administration. With a focus on Iran, Russia, and potentially China, Trump’s team may lean on tools like secondary sanctions while navigating a tense geopolitical environment.

China Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Nov 21, 2024

Five questions (and expert answers) about major new US sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank

By Atlantic Council experts

To decipher these moves, we turned to some of our top sanctions experts to reveal what’s behind the decision and what to expect next.

Economic Sanctions Russia

New Atlanticist

Nov 5, 2024

To counter the Axis of Evasion, the US must tackle third-country procurement networks

By Kimberly Donovan

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are increasing their coordination with illicit procurement networks through third countries.

China Economic Sanctions

EconoGraphics

Nov 4, 2024

How data control is driving a new US-China economic divide 

By Jesse Sucher

China’s increased restrictions on corporate and financial data make it difficult for the United States and allies to enforce economic statecraft tools like sanctions and supply chain safeguards.

China Economy & Business

Events

Transatlantic Forum

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is our annual flagship conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic, and launches cutting-edge research and analysis on transatlantic alignment on economic statecraft.

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Staff

Fellows