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The Trump administration called on officials from nearly 65 countries on Thursday to form an international coalition against left-wing extremist groups, arguing that the groups have become a major terrorist threat.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host representatives of foreign missions in talks focused on increasing intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation and other international efforts to combat what administration officials describe as a growing international network of violent far-left organizations.
Administration officials said the move was the culmination of an eight-month effort to convince foreign governments that far-left violent networks are a growing cross-border threat that requires greater international cooperation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host representatives of foreign missions in talks focused on increasing intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation and other international efforts to combat what administration officials describe as a growing international network of violent far-left organizations. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP)
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The move comes as some analysts and foreign officials have questioned whether left-wing extremist groups pose an international terror threat comparable to Islamist groups. Others have expressed concern that governments could use these measures to target political opponents under the banner of counter-terrorism.
Administration officials dismissed those concerns Wednesday, saying the effort focused less on criminal and terrorist violence than political beliefs.
“We have not gone into trying to challenge people’s beliefs and opinions,” a State Department official told reporters. “In America, you can believe whatever you want. The minute you cross the legal limit, that changes.”
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Officials say governments have spent much of the past two decades focusing on jihadist terrorism while downplaying what they describe as a resurgence of politically motivated violence from far-left extremist networks operating across borders.
“This has been a blind spot for many of our partners, frankly. They haven’t seen these practices … since the 1970s,” the State Department official said. “Our colleagues have discussed with us the possibility of an increased conspiracy to kill or to kill.”
Cars are set on fire, after attackers bombed three residential buildings linked to Greece’s ruling party in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece, on July 1, 2026. (Alexandros Avramidis/Reuters)
Administration officials have pointed to a series of recent attacks in Europe that they say underscore the need for greater international cooperation.
On July 1, a planned firebombing attack hit the houses of members of Greece’s ruling New Democracy party in Thessaloniki, killing the mother of parliament member Afroditi Nestora and injuring four others. Greek anti-terrorist police later arrested three suspects.
In January, an arson incident at a power transmission plant in Berlin, Germany, knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. German authorities later transferred the investigation to the federal prosecutor regarding the alleged involvement of a terrorist organization.
The meeting builds on a series of actions the administration has taken since late 2025, including designating four foreign terrorist organizations as foreign terrorist organizations and Specially Designated International Terrorists, and offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of their financial networks.
Rubio is expected to argue that left-wing violent groups continue to operate across borders, share strategies, plan attacks and exploit international conflicts to gain supporters, making greater cooperation between governments more important to thwart the threat.
Protest Marks Second Anniversary of 2023 Tragic Train Crash Clashes erupt between protesters and riot police during a protest marking the second anniversary of the 2023 train crash that killed 57 people in Athens, Greece, on February 28, 2025. (Dimitris Lampropoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller are also expected to speak with the minister, which will include discussions on the global threat landscape, terrorist financing, intelligence sharing and protecting critical infrastructure.
Officials also disputed reports that foreign partners were reluctant to participate, saying several governments approached the United States to join the program after seeing similar trends within their own borders.
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“We have had countries contact us that want to be part of this,” said a State Department official.
The four organizations nominated by the administration in November were Antifa Ost, Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front (FAI/FRI), Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense. Authorities say the groups, which operate in Germany, Italy and Greece, have coordinated violent cross-border attacks.
