More than sixty delegations from Europe to Asia are attending the event, chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In his prepared remarks, Rubio characterizes left-wing terrorism as "a revolt against civilization" rooted in resentment. However, a 2025 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) challenges this narrative. While left-wing attacks have seen a slight uptick in the U.S., right-wing attacks remain far more prevalent historically. In 2020, for instance, there were 30 right-wing terror attacks or plots in the U.S., compared to eight from the left and three from jihadist groups.

U.S. officials argue the transnational threat of left-wing terrorism hasn't been effectively addressed collectively. The Trump administration's counterterrorism strategy singles out Europe as an "incubator" of threats. Officials point to the sabotage of the French rail network during the 2024 Olympics, the killing of French nationalist activist Quentin Deranque, and an attack on Greece's New Democracy party as examples.

The administration categorizes threats to the U.S. into three groups: narco-terrorists, Islamist terrorists, and violent left-wing extremists including anarchists and anti-fascists. This marks a shift from the Biden administration, which prioritized far-right and white supremacist groups. The ‘antifa’ movement has been a particular target, designated a domestic terrorist organization after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. However, experts describe antifa as a loose political ideology rather than an organized group. Washington has also sanctioned European groups, including Germany's "Antifa Ost" and anarchist groups in Italy and Greece. (Bssnews)