U.S. to Host Global Summit on Tackling Rising Political Violence and Terrorism Threats

BY MIRABEL ODETA

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to host an international summit on July 15 in Washington, bringing together representatives from dozens of countries to discuss strategies for addressing the growing threat of political violence around the world.

A State Department official said the meeting, titled the “ministerial on resurgence of political terrorism,” will include delegates from more than 60 countries across regions including the Western Hemisphere, Europe and Asia. The gathering is expected to focus on cooperation between governments and the development of new approaches to counter violent political movements.

The summit follows President Donald Trump’s counterterrorism strategy, signed in May, which emphasizes identifying and responding to groups the White House describes as violent political organizations. The strategy highlights concerns over groups accused of promoting anti-American views, political extremism and violence.

A State Department official said the current global security environment requires a renewed approach, arguing that previous counterterrorism efforts have not fully addressed emerging threats.

“Our counterterrorism operating system needs an update to deal with the reality of such threats, to protect American citizens and U.S. national security and interests,” the official said.

U.S. officials said the focus of counterterrorism efforts will remain on activities that meet the definition of terrorism, including politically motivated killings, kidnappings, threats against government institutions and law enforcement, attacks on critical infrastructure, and violence targeting military personnel.

The planned summit comes amid renewed debate in the United States over political violence and domestic extremism. Following the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, White House officials called for a broader effort to address groups they accused of encouraging violence.

The administration has said the strategy is intended to address threats from across the political spectrum, including both left-wing and right-wing extremist groups that engage in or promote violent actions.

The July meeting is expected to serve as a platform for international partners to discuss intelligence sharing, security cooperation and possible changes to existing counterterrorism policies as governments seek new ways to respond to evolving forms of political violence.