The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is intensifying efforts to coordinate an international response to what it describes as a resurgence of transnational left-wing extremism. As part of this initiative, the U.S. State Department sent a diplomatic cable in mid-June to more than 20 American embassies, including the U.S. Embassy in Albania.
To advance this effort, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has invited senior ministers from more than 60 countries to attend a meeting in Washington next week.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the conference will focus on what the Trump administration describes as the “resurgence of transnational left-wing terrorism.” However, the initiative has generated mixed reactions within the U.S. government and among several European allies, many of whom do not view left-wing extremism as a top national security threat.
The report states that some U.S. officials are concerned the administration could use counterterrorism authorities to target American activists associated with the anti-fascist movement known as Antifa.
According to sources cited by the newspaper, the administration’s counterterrorism coordinator, Sebastian Gorka, has discussed the possibility of designating Antifa as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Experts note that such a designation would significantly expand the investigative powers available to U.S. authorities, including advanced surveillance capabilities.
However, legal experts and former State Department officials argue that such a designation would face significant legal obstacles, as U.S. law requires a Foreign Terrorist Organization to be based outside the United States. Antifa is generally described as a decentralized movement with most of its presence inside the U.S.
Despite these legal concerns, the State Department reportedly sent a diplomatic cable in mid-June to more than 20 U.S. embassies—from Argentina and Mexico to Italy and Albania—requesting information about left-wing extremist groups. According to two sources familiar with the matter, several embassies have responded, but none indicated agreement with the administration’s assessment of the threat level.
Invitations to the July 16 summit have been sent to most European countries, several Latin American nations, and Asian partners including India, Indonesia, and Singapore.
According to The Washington Post, several European diplomats expressed surprise at the invitation, stating that left-wing extremism is not regarded as a primary national security threat in their countries. Some also suggested that their respective ministers may not attend due to prior diplomatic commitments.
The July 16 meeting is expected to further highlight the Trump administration’s evolving approach to security and counterterrorism, as debate continues in both the United States and among its allies over how to address politically motivated extremist movements.
