WASHINGTON, July 16, (v7n) – The United States is hosting an international ministerial meeting Thursday aimed at globalizing the fight against left-wing terrorism, which the Trump administration claims is on the rise. More than 60 delegations from Europe to Asia are expected to attend the event, titled "Resurgence of Political Terrorism" and chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Far-left political terrorism is a real and transnational threat that has existed for decades but is now experiencing a resurgence," Rubio was to say in opening remarks, according to a senior State Department official. Rubio sought to characterize left-wing terrorism as "a unique evil rooted in a deep resentment towards civilization" that "metastasizes into different ideological formulations."
However, data from a comprehensive 2025 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows that while there has been a slight uptick in attacks from the left in the United States, far more terrorist attacks have been committed by the right since 1994. "In recent years, the United States has seen an increase in the number of left-wing terrorism attacks and plots, although such violence has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers," the report said. For example, in 2020 there were 30 terror attacks or plots in the US committed by the right, compared to eight by the left and three by jihadist groups.
US officials say the issue of left-wing political terrorism "has not really been addressed collectively in an effective way" given its transnational nature. In its recent "United States Counterterrorism Strategy," the Trump administration targeted Europe, calling it an "incubator of terrorist threats." Officials point to the sabotage of the French rail network on the opening day of the 2024 Olympics, the killing of French nationalist activist Quentin Deranque in February attributed to anti-fascist militants, and an attack earlier this month against members of Greece's conservative New Democracy party that left one dead and four injured.
The report breaks down terrorist threats against the US into three categories: "narco-terrorists and international gangs," "historical Islamist terrorists," and "violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists." That marks a break with the Biden administration, which had designated far-right groups, particularly white supremacist groups, as major threats. The "antifa" movement has become a particular target of the Trump administration, which designated it a "domestic terrorist organization" last year after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. However, experts say "antifa" is a nebulous movement of left-wing activists that is more of a political ideology than an organized group.
Abroad, Washington has sanctioned groups in Europe, including "Antifa Ost" based in Germany, as well as three other anarchist groups in Italy and Greece.
END/WD/RH/
