US will focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that the United States intends to redirect international counterterrorism efforts toward what he described as "far-left terror." Speaking to officials from over 60 nations in Washington, Rubio argued that left-wing violence has been historically overlooked.

Rubio stated that while the threat from Islamic militancy has significantly diminished due to global cooperation, rising left-wing violence represents a "blind spot." He emphasized the need to identify and map this threat, rebuilding counterterrorism structures to combat it. This initiative marks a significant effort by the Trump administration to internationalize a counterterrorism focus that critics claim lacks sufficient data.

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We can, and we must identify and map this threat and rebuild our counterterrorism architecture to defeat it.

The conference follows President Donald Trump's prioritization of countering left-wing groups, particularly the antifa movement, which he has accused of fomenting violence. The administration previously held a law enforcement workshop on the threat of far-left groups and plans a second with Germany.

Other nations are also using the forum to discuss diverse threats. Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braze noted the fluid extremist environment, where technology enables various actors, including those with leftist and right-wing ideologies, to radicalize different groups. Since November, Washington has designated four European groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and plans further designations. Rubio also announced a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals supporting or inciting violence or economic sabotage, though no specific bans were immediately disclosed. The U.S. Treasury is also expanding probes into the misuse of charitable structures for foreign influence and violence.

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What is new is that it's very much a fluid extremist environment where technology enables various actors to radicalize different groups. Sometimes it's leftist ideology, sometimes it's very right-wing ideology.