U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold a conference on “far-left political terrorism” on Thursday, aiming to secure international support to counter left-wing movements that, according to the Trump administration, law enforcement agencies have overlooked for too long.
The event will feature representatives from at least 65 countries: some will send ministers of foreign or internal affairs, while others will dispatch lower-level officials, a senior State Department representative informed journalists on the condition of anonymity. This one-day event will provide a platform for counterterrorism experts to discuss what the Trump administration describes as a growing and increasingly complex global threat, the official noted.
This long-planned conference has raised concerns among some former officials and experts who worry that the administration may be reallocating resources to groups responsible for a relatively small number of attacks, potentially neglecting Islamic militants and right-wing extremists. State Department representatives assert that these concerns are unfounded.
Trump Administration’s Priority
President Donald Trump has made combating left-wing groups, including “Antifa”, one of his administration’s priorities. During the 2024 election campaign, he repeatedly highlighted the activities of this movement and pledged to take action against left-wing groups that he accuses of inciting violence following the murder of conservative activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk last year.
Threat Beyond the U.S.
Globally, attacks by far-left groups on officials, police, businesses, and infrastructure reflect a deliberate, ideologically motivated strategy to destabilize free societies, the State Department stated on Wednesday. “However, for too long, this threat has remained a blind spot in the focus of the international counterterrorism community, underestimated and under-resourced, despite the danger it poses,” the statement read.
Source: The Straits Times
