OpenSanctions MCP Server for Windsurf 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect OpenSanctions through Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool. ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.
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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.
Vinkius Desktop App
The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install OpenSanctions and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.
{
"mcpServers": {
"opensanctions": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About OpenSanctions MCP Server
Connect to OpenSanctions and access the world's largest open sanctions and PEP screening database through natural conversation — no API key needed for non-commercial use.
Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple OpenSanctions tool calls autonomously. query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 8 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.
What you can do
- Entity Search — Search for sanctioned persons, companies and vessels by name
- Sanctions Screening — Screen names against global sanctions lists (OFAC, EU, UN, UK HMT)
- PEP Screening — Screen persons against Politically Exposed Persons databases
- Entity Details — Get full entity info including aliases, dates of birth, nationalities and addresses
- Vessel Search — Search sanctioned vessels by name or IMO number
- Dataset Browser — Browse all available sanctions datasets worldwide
The OpenSanctions MCP Server exposes 8 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect OpenSanctions to Windsurf via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the OpenSanctions MCP Server with Windsurf.
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
Start using OpenSanctions
Open Cascade and ask: "Using OpenSanctions, help me...". 8 tools available
Why Use Windsurf with the OpenSanctions MCP Server
Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with OpenSanctions through the Model Context Protocol.
Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention
Purpose-built for agentic workflows. Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively
JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 8 tools are immediately available
Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts
OpenSanctions + Windsurf Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the OpenSanctions MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from OpenSanctions and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses
Live debugging: query OpenSanctions tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor
Documentation generation: pull schema information from OpenSanctions and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically
Rapid prototyping: combine OpenSanctions data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes
OpenSanctions MCP Tools for Windsurf (8)
These 8 tools become available when you connect OpenSanctions to Windsurf via MCP:
get_datasets
Returns dataset names, descriptions, publisher info and entity counts. Get list of all sanctions datasets available
get_entity
Returns full entity details including names, aliases, dates of birth, nationalities, addresses, sanctions details, related entities and source datasets. Get detailed info for a specific entity by ID
match_pep
Returns match scores, matched entities, political positions and source datasets. Useful for KYC/AML compliance checks. Screen a name against Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) lists
match_sanctions
Uses fuzzy matching to find potential matches. Returns match scores, matched entities and sanction details. Use threshold parameter (0.0-1.0) to adjust sensitivity. Default 0.85. Screen a name against global sanctions lists
search_company
Returns company names, registration numbers, jurisdictions, addresses and sanctions status. Search for companies in the sanctions database
search_entities
Supports free-text search with fuzzy matching. Returns entity names, types (Person, Company, Vessel), countries and dataset sources. Use schema parameter to filter by entity type (Person, Company, Vessel, etc.). Search sanctions and PEP entities by name
search_person
Returns person names, aliases, dates of birth, nationalities, countries and sanctions status. Search for persons in the sanctions database
search_vessel
Returns vessel names, IMO numbers, flags, owners and sanctions status. Search for vessels (ships) in the sanctions database
Example Prompts for OpenSanctions in Windsurf
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with OpenSanctions immediately.
"Screen 'Vladimir Putin' against sanctions lists."
"Search for companies sanctioned in Russia."
"What sanctions datasets are available?"
Troubleshooting OpenSanctions MCP Server with Windsurf
Common issues when connecting OpenSanctions to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not connecting
OpenSanctions + Windsurf FAQ
Common questions about integrating OpenSanctions MCP Server with Windsurf.
How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?
mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?
Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?
mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.Connect OpenSanctions with your favorite client
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Connect OpenSanctions to Windsurf
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 8 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.