Experts

Former staff

Anders Åslund

Former Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Economy & Business

Former fellow

Bart Oosterveld

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

China Dutch

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Daniel Fried

Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Democratic Transitions

Fellow

David Mortlock

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment
forrer john

Former fellow

John Forrer

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Sanctions Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

Former fellow

Samantha Sultoon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba East Asia

Former fellow

Sara Bazoobandi

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Arabic Energy & Environment

All Content

Issue Brief

Jan 14, 2021

Rejoining the Iran nuclear deal: Not so easy

By Brian O’Toole

President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20, 2021, facing a litany of daunting foreign policy issues, from another massive cyber hack by Russian intelligence to alienated allies in Europe and beyond to a regime in Pyongyang that continues to proliferate weapons of mass destruction unchecked. But perhaps the stickiest—and most immediate—crisis the Biden administration […]

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

Russia sanctions bite and remind us of the value of transatlantic unity

By Juha Rainne

Despite some early hesitation and Moscow’s attempts to discredit them, the sanctions are working. They have had an undeniable effect on the Russian economy, which Moscow cannot overlook in its decision-making.

Economic Sanctions Russia

IranSource

Oct 13, 2020

New sanctions on Iran’s banks: Crippling or more window dressing?

By Brian O’Toole

Policy actions like these are a continuation of a foreign policy toward Iran that appears characterized by spite rather than achievable policy ends.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jul 27, 2020

The curious case of the US Treasury and Gaz Group

By Brian O’Toole

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) very quietly issued two extensions of general licenses on July 22 related to Vladimir Putin-tied oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s Gaz Group that, while apparently going unnoticed, constitute a significant change in the sanctions on Gaz, which can now seemingly operate according to something like business as usual.

Economic Sanctions Russia

New Atlanticist

Jul 7, 2020

Can Washington avoid a China “shake and bake”?

By Julia Friedlander

Washington is mounting a regulatory onslaught in response to China’s transgressions with no defined trajectory. The coming weeks will be a test whether US actions will send a clear message, or whether we’ll have a China shake-and-bake.

China Economic Sanctions

Issue Brief

May 11, 2020

Trump’s JCPOA withdrawal two years on: Maximum pressure, minimum outcomes

By David Mortlock

Two years ago, US President Donald J. Trump walked into the White House Diplomatic Reception Room and announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran and has adopted a policy of “maximum pressure” to compel Iran to change its behavior […]

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 6, 2020

The case for public health sanctions

By Michael Greenwald

Public health sanctions should be deemed just as significant of a national security priority as sanctions against Iran and North Korea. In a globalized world, a territory’s poor public health standards or purposeful concealment of information about pandemic activity is practically an act of war against the rest of the world. As such, it makes sense that this negligence warrants economic sanctions consequences on par with those used to punish terror finance violations.

Coronavirus Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2020

Reconciling sanctions and humanitarian need during COVID-19

By Brian O’Toole

As the world economy shuts down to try to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, the humanitarian collateral effects of sanctions become more pronounced and potentially deadly. But the argument that the United States should unilaterally roll back sanctions draws a false dichotomy; sanctions do not have to be suspended or rolled back for the United States to better address humanitarian concerns.

Cuba Economic Sanctions

Issue Brief

Mar 16, 2020

Pushing back against Russian aggression: Legislative options

By Daniel Fried, Brian O’Toole

US President Donald J. Trump’s administration has found it challenging to maintain a consistent position with respect to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s repression at home and aggression abroad.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

IranSource

Feb 24, 2020

FATF blacklists Iran, but does it matter?

By Brian O’Toole

The decision to impose counter-measures by the Paris-based body signals something of an end to the group’s patience with Iran, especially by the European Union, after Tehran failed to follow through on the action plan it agreed upon with the FATF to address its deficiencies.

Economic Sanctions Iran