The Trump administration is convening officials from roughly 65 countries Thursday to build an international coalition against violent far-left extremist groups, arguing the organizations have become a leading transnational terrorism threat.Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host representatives from the foreign delegations for discussions focused on expanding intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation and other international efforts to counter what administration officials describe as an increasingly transnational network of violent far-left extremist organizations.Administration officials said the ministerial is the culmination of an eight-month diplomatic effort to convince foreign governments that violent far-left extremist networks have become a growing cross-border threat requiring greater international coordination.Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host representatives from the foreign delegations for discussions focused on expanding intelligence sharing, law enforcement cooperation and other international efforts to counter what administration officials describe as an increasingly transnational network of violent far-left extremist organizations.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP)TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAR-LEFT PROTESTERS CLASH WITH POLICE IN ANTI-CONSERVATIVE PARTY RIOTSThe initiative comes as some analysts and foreign officials have questioned whether violent far-left groups constitute a cohesive international terrorism threat comparable to Islamist extremist organizations.
Others have raised concerns governments could use such initiatives to target political opponents under the banner of counterterrorism.Administration officials rejected those concerns Wednesday, arguing the effort is narrowly focused on criminal and terrorist violence rather than political beliefs."We haven't waded into trying to disambiguate people's beliefs and ideologies," a senior State Department official told reporters."In America, you can believe anything you want.
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