Sanctions Space

At the ACAMS Las Vegas Assembly, Justine sat down with Oksana Ihnatenko, RUSI, and ACAMS Rising Professional of the Year. Their discussion includes Oksana’s research and work to build public-private partnerships in Ukraine, how Ukrainians view current sanctions policy, and how Ukraine’s reconstruction can be funded. Oksana Ihnatenko is a Researcher for the Supervising and Monitoring Ukraine’s Reconstruction Funds (SMURF) project at the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI, based in Kyiv. Her research focuses on Ukraine's adherence to FATF standards, fighting financial crime, anti-money laundering efforts, and issues surrounding reconstruction. You can read more here. https://www.rusi.org/people/ihnatenko

At the ACAMS Las Vegas Assembly, Justine sat down with Carole House, Senior Distinguished Fellow, ACAMS. Their discussion includes the AFC implications of generative artificial intelligence, including increasing sophistication of deepfakes and the resulting ‘authenticity crisis’, how we can build resilience to the threat, and trends in cyber-enabled sanctions evasion. Carole House recently joined ACAMS as a Senior Distinguished Fellow. Among Carole’s many prominent and senior roles, she previously served as the White House National Security Council (NSC) special advisor for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure policy.

At the ACAMS Las Vegas Assembly, Justine sat down with Alex Zerden, Capitol Peak Strategies. Their discussion covers a range of U.S. sanctions priorities, including significant action undertaken on both drug cartels and Iran, easing measures on Syria, and the implications of a U.S.-backed stablecoin. Alex Zerden is the Founder and Principal of Capitol Peak Strategies, a risk advisory firm based in Washington, DC. Capitol Peak works with leading financial institutions, companies and organizations to navigate emerging technologies, financial regulation, and economic crisis.

At the ACAMS Europe Assembly in Paris, Justine sat down with Stephanie Baker, Senior Writer, Bloomberg. Their discussion includes how Russia has exploited loopholes to circumvent sanctions and export controls and continue financing its war, how Russia’s wartime economy may impact peace negotiations, and how the new economic tool of ‘secondary tariffs’ could potentially play out. Stephanie recently published a book titled ‘Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia’. You can find further details here: Punishing Putin — Stephanie Baker | Writer & Journalist https://stephaniebakerwriter.com/punishing-putin

On the margins of the ACAMS Hollywood Assembly, Justine sat down with Laura Ferris, The Sentry, to discuss illicit financial flows linked to environmental crime. Their discussion includes assessing the distinct overlap between environmental crime, sanctions, and corruption, as well as a spotlight on the illegal logging trade – including how funds are laundered, the current state of global action to address the trade, and how organizations should think about their related supply chain risk. Laura Ferris is Senior Policy Advisor, Illegal Logging at The Sentry. Find out more here. https://thesentry.org/about/

‘As we start to piece this all together, we found that there were certain trends and typologies that were very similar in terms of how China was working with Russia, as well as how China was working with Iran, and then just kind of shaping out this broader network of actors.’ In the latest episode of the Sanctions Space Podcast – recorded at the ACAMS Hollywood Assembly - Justine is joined by Kimberly Donovan, director of the Economic Statecraft Initiative within the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center. They discuss geopolitical trends and the interrelation with sanctions compliance - including the emergence of an ‘axis of evasion’ network utilizing techniques such as barter trade to circumvent sanctions restrictions - and how modern financial crime fighters need to increase their understanding of the evolving geopolitical environment in order to build it into their programs. Prior to joining the Atlantic Council, Kimberly served in the federal government for fifteen years, most recently as the acting associate director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) Intelligence Division and FinCEN’s chief of staff and senior advisor to the director. Read Kimberly’s full bio here. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/kimberly-donovan/

Marshall Billingslea, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and former U.S. government envoy, shares his insights on U.S. sanctions policy. He discusses the potential easing of sanctions on Russia amid negotiation hopes, but believes punitive measures may come first. The conversation highlights the shift towards tariffs and maximum pressure against Iran. Billingslea also touches on the administration's strategic focus on fentanyl trafficking and drug cartels, emphasizing the need for nuanced economic statecraft and global financial security.

Edward Fishman, an expert on economic statecraft and author of 'Chokepoints,' delves into the current landscape of economic warfare. He discusses how sanctions, tariffs, and export controls have become vital tools in international competition. Fishman analyzes U.S.-Russia negotiations and the critical role of sanctions relief. He also touches on the implications of U.S. sanctions on China and Iran, predicting how shifting policies will impact global economic dynamics. His insights highlight the urgent need for sanctions literacy in today’s geopolitical climate.

Elaine Dezenski, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, shares her insights on the future of U.S. sanctions and economic strategies. She delves into U.S.-China relations, geopolitical challenges, and the need for stronger global alliances to combat authoritarian influences. Additionally, she discusses the evolving landscape of anti-corruption efforts and how sanctions play a critical role in this new Cold War dynamic. Dezenski’s expertise sheds light on the complexities and opportunities that lie ahead.

Join AML legends Rick Small and Bill Fox as they dive into the intricate world of sanctions and anti-money laundering. Rick emphasizes that financial institutions serve as the frontline enforcers of sanctions, while Bill discusses the increasingly complex compliance landscape. They explore the interconnectedness of sanctions and AML practices, the challenges of risk assessments across diverse jurisdictions, and the necessity for improved frameworks and collaboration between the public and private sectors.