(WASHINGTON) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to host delegations from more than 70 countries this week for a gathering focused on addressing what the Trump administration describes as the overlooked threat posed by “the resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism,” according to a State Department official and internal documents reviewed exclusively by ABC News.
“For too long this threat has remained a blind spot in the international community’s counterterrorism focus, underestimated and under-resourced, despite the danger it poses,” a note shared with foreign governments describing the concept of the meeting reads.
It goes on to assert that law enforcement and counterterrorism experts have revealed a “clear trend” of “globally networked, politically-motivated terrorists — particularly far-left terrorists” increasingly turning to “organized, deadly violence to advance their political objectives.”
The meeting, which will take place in Washington on Thursday, will lay the foundation for “coordinated action” to counter international organizations that are “seeking to implement an extreme political vision through intimidation and coordinated campaigns of terror,” the document states.
Representatives from roughly 60 countries were initially expected to attend, but the State Department said in a post to X on Friday it would expand the ministerial due to “overwhelming interest” by inviting additional countries “working to combat the growing international threat of far-left violence.”
A State Department official said more than 10 additional invitations had been extended.
Some critics of the Trump administration’s counterterrorism approach have claimed its focus on threats from the far left is misguided.
Analysis conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in 2025 found that while left-wing violence in the U.S. has increased over the past decade, “it has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers.”
The CSIS report concluded it was “important to resource all dimensions of the terrorism threat.”
“Left-wing terrorism is a Trump administration priority, but jihadist terrorism also remains a concern even though it has declined,” it states. “Right-wing terrorism could come roaring back, especially if in 2028 there are complaints of a ‘stolen election’ or similar incendiary claims.”
The ACLU has also taken issue with multiple actions taken by the Trump administration’s counterterrorism approach, accusing it of targeting politically opposed but peaceful activists and donors “under the guise of addressing political violence and domestic terrorism.”
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