Understanding Sanctions: Purpose, Application, and Impact

• Sanctions are strategic tools used to influence behavior, deter aggression, and enforce compliance with international norms.
• Sanctions are commonly used to address counterterrorism, human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation, and election interference.

Types of Sanctions

1. Comprehensive Sanctions: Broad measures against entire countries (e.g., U.S. embargo on Cuba).
2. Targeted (Smart) Sanctions: Focused on specific individuals or entities (e.g., asset freezes, travel bans).
3. Common Forms:

• Trade restrictions and arms embargoes.
• Asset freezes and capital restraints.
• Travel bans and reductions in foreign aid.

How sanctions work?

• United States:
  • Managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
  • Targets include terrorism (e.g., al-Qaeda), nuclear programs (e.g., Iran), and election meddling (e.g., Russia).
  • Example: 2024 sanctions on Iranian and Russian entities for using AI to interfere in U.S. elections.
• United Nations:
  • Imposed by the UN Security Council, requiring no veto from the five permanent members (U.S., UK, France, China, Russia).
  • Measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes.
  • Example: Sanctions on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons program.