Backfire

Sanctions have become a go-to diplomatic tool for the US, be it against Iran, Russia or Turkey. However, sanctions come with unexpected, global side-effects that are rarely discussed. All of these side-effects have a meaningful impact on businesses, financial markets and governments. First, US sanctions are pushing countries that are at odds with the US, such as Turkey, Russia and Iran, closer to each other, with massive consequences on traditional alliances, such as NATO. Second, Russia and China directly benefit from US sanctions, as targeted countries are turning to Moscow and Beijing for strategic deals. Third, US sanctions can have unforeseen ripple effects on America's allies, which often fuels resentment against the US. In this book, sanctions expert Agathe Demarais presents a fresh take on U.S. sanctions from the outside, exploring how international relations, energy markets, and the global economy writ large is shaken in unforeseen ways when the U.S. decides to use sanctions as a political weapon--