Strategising the Use of Sanctions: in Conversation with Wally Adeyemo

The effective use of sanctions needs clear objectives and outcomes, multilateral coordination, and rigorous enforcement; their overuse can have unintended consequences. Former US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo talks to host Tom Keatinge about the 2021 US Treasury Sanctions Review, the use of sanctions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the challenges posed by cryptocurrencies in designing sanctions in response to Hamas's murderous attack on Israel. He stresses that sanctions must be tied to measurable goals, integrated into broader foreign policy, and enforced via multilateral cooperation to remain credible. But he also warns that overuse risks undermining US influence by pushing adversaries toward alternative financial systems and causing unintended humanitarian harm.