The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, led an international summit focused on combating extreme left terrorism, in a meeting that brought together representatives from governments around the world.
The central theme of the meeting was to address the increase in transnational extreme left terrorism, gathering partners from across the Western Hemisphere, as well as from Europe and Asia, with the aim of enhancing coordination, improving information sharing, and strengthening international law enforcement mechanisms.
The growing threat of extreme left terrorism is characterized by violent attacks against private citizens, government officials, security forces, businesses, and critical infrastructure in various regions of the world.
President Donald Trump
The State Department stated that, historically, the majority of politically motivated terrorism in the West has been perpetrated by violent extreme left groups and individuals. Between 1970 and 1980, these actors were responsible for 93% of terrorist attacks and 58% of deaths linked to this type of violence.
According to the data released, since 2016 there has been a significant increase in plots and attacks of this nature both in the United States and in Europe, with a growing trend towards violence against individuals.
In U.S. territory, extreme left anarchist terrorism is identified as the primary ideological category in terms of the number of attacks and plots.
In this regard, it was noted that leftist groups were responsible for 63% of all recorded anti-government attacks or plans in the United States, as well as three of the four deaths from such attacks that occurred in 2025.
Leftist terrorists
Left-Wing Terrorism in Europe
In Europe, the figures also reflect a significant presence of these groups. In 2024, there were 21 attacks by extreme left and anarchist terrorists, compared to 24 attacks carried out by jihadist terrorists during the same period. For 2025, of the 45 reported attacks, 12 were by extreme left and anarchist actors.
The report also indicates that, in the last three years, Europe recorded a record number of attacks targeting railway networks, critical infrastructure, and private businesses, causing millions in economic damages and disruptive effects, mostly attributed to extreme left and anarchist groups.
Regarding response actions, the State Department reported that it designated four violent extreme left organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, and that new designations are currently being evaluated.
Leftist terrorists
Additionally, in December 2025, it was announced that the Rewards for Justice program offers up to 10 million dollars for information that helps dismantle the financial mechanisms supporting these groups.
The U.S. government also indicated that it has maintained contacts with international partners through bilateral diplomatic efforts, in which several countries reported an increase in extreme left terrorist activity, including attacks against officials, economic sabotage, attacks on critical infrastructure, the use of improvised explosive and incendiary devices, and convergence with violent anti-American, anti-Semitic, or anti-technological movements.
As part of these initiatives, the U.S. organized an international law enforcement workshop in May 2026 focused on counter-terrorism, bringing together specialists from the United States and other countries to share threat assessments and operational practices.
Finally, the State Department stated that it continues to coordinate with allied governments to restrict the movements of terrorists, strengthen information sharing, and improve international police cooperation with the goal of countering the growing activity of transnational extreme left networks.
