US convenes global summit on far-left terrorism amid rights concerns
Critics argue the 2026 counterterrorism strategy’s focus on left-wing extremism, while omitting right-wing violence, politicises security policy and risks undermining international law enforcement cooperation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting the “Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism” in Washington on Thursday, convening representatives from more than 65 countries to coordinate responses to what the State Department describes as a renewed threat from far-left political violence. The summit aims to enhance international law enforcement mechanisms and information sharing, marking a significant shift in how the United States categorises domestic and global security risks.
The conference aligns with the Trump administration’s 2026 counterterrorism strategy, which identifies “Islamist terrorism”, “narco-terrorism”, and “violent left-wing extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists” as primary threats. The strategy cites the September 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk, executed by an individual described as a “radical who espoused extreme transgender ideologies”, as a key driver for this renewed focus on the political left.
Despite the emphasis on left-wing groups, the strategy omits right-wing extremism and white supremacist organisations, including those linked to the January 6, 2020, Capitol attack. This exclusion has drawn sharp criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, which argue that the designation is being politicised to target lawful protest and political opponents rather than genuine security threats.
Thomas Renard, director of The Hague-based International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, stated that the summit reflects a fundamental shift in US security policy. He noted that counterterrorism has been “completely politicised” and that the threat from far-right terrorism, previously considered the primary domestic threat, has disappeared from official strategy. Renard warned that this approach creates a blind spot regarding far-right terrorist threats, which remain strongly rooted in the United States.
European nations have shown mixed engagement with the initiative. While Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is confirmed to attend, many European countries are sending relatively junior ministers as a diplomatic compromise. According to Renard, these nations are uneasy with the focus on left-wing extremism but wish to avoid antagonising the United States. This diplomatic caution follows the US designation in November 2025 of four European groups as terrorist organisations, including Germany’s Antifa Ost and Italy’s Informal Anarchist Federation.
Historical data cited by the Cato Institute in February underscores the controversy surrounding the administration’s focus. Between 1975 and 2025, excluding the Oklahoma bombing and the September 11 attacks, right-wing terrorists accounted for 45 percent of politically motivated murders in the US, compared to 16 percent for left-wing terrorists. The disparity has been further highlighted by the Trump administration’s pardon of all individuals charged with violence during the January 6, 2023, insurrection, while simultaneously pursuing harsh sentences against individuals described as Antifa members.
The summit follows a series of smaller meetings held earlier this year, including one in The Hague with law enforcement officials. The State Department reported overwhelming interest from the more than 70 countries invited, seeking to expand coordination and strengthen international mechanisms against what it terms a previously ignored threat.
