US launches global push against far-left political terrorism, says Rubio

Marco Rubio opened a US-led ministerial urging countries to confront far-left political terrorism. The push sharpens the Trump administration's 2026 threat focus even as critics argue all terror risks need equal attention.

In Short

• Rubio told diplomats violence was often excused when tied to left-wing causes
• The 2026 strategy lists Islamist, narco and violent left-wing threats
• Stephen Miller and Scott Bessent also addressed the inaugural ministerial session

The United States on Thursday launched what it described as a global effort to counter far-left political terrorism, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a threat that must be dismantled to defend civilisation.

Speaking at the inaugural international ministerial on 'The Resurgence of Political Terrorism', Rubio said acts of violence and terrorism had repeatedly been dismissed by some people in power as legitimate political expression as long as they served a left-wing cause.

Addressing representatives and diplomats from several countries, Rubio said, "We can and we must identify and map this threat and rebuild our counter-terrorism architecture to defeat it." The Trump administration's 2026 counter-terrorism strategy identifies three primary threats: "Islamist terrorism", "narco-terrorism" and "violent left-wing extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists". White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also addressed the inaugural session.

Rubio said that over the past several years, left-wing violence was not just excused, but treated as sacrosanct and as a protected class. "That era has to end... It can no longer be denied. And it can no longer be ignored. Because it is time to crush this evil forever," he said.

He described radical leftism as "a distinctive and unique evil" and said it had always been driven by "a hatred for civilisation itself". "It is a revolt of the worst against the best; of the weak and the cowardly against the strong and the good. It is perpetrated by those who cannot build, cannot create, cannot achieve great things - and take their revenge upon the world for their own inadequacy by seeking to destroy those who can," Rubio said.

Some critics of the Trump administration's counter-terrorism approach have said its focus on threats from the far left is misguided. Analysis by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in 2025 found that while left-wing violence in the US had increased over the past decade, "it 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 it was "important to resource all dimensions of the terrorism threat".

The meeting marked the start of the US push on the issue, with Rubio presenting far-left political terrorism as a major threat, while critics pointed to analysis that said all forms of terrorism should continue to be addressed.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends