State Department conference on political terrorism to focus on far-left violence, not Islamist threats

The U.S. State Department is hosting a high-level conference on political terrorism on Thursday, focusing on the resurgence of transnational far-left violence. The Trump administration asserts this threat is an "overlooked" and "blind spot in the international community's counterterrorism focus," despite remaining committed to combating Iran-backed terrorism and right-wing extremism. The department cited violent attacks across the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Asia, stating, "These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a deliberate, ideologically motivated strategy to destabilize free societies." Approximately 70 countries are expected to participate, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivering opening remarks. The conference aims to enhance intelligence cooperation, disrupt terrorist financing, protect critical infrastructure, and strengthen international law enforcement coordination.