Italy sends sub‑secretary to US summit on far‑left terrorism

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has convened a summit in Washington to address what the Trump administration calls a resurgence of “red terrorism” or anti‑Antifa activity. The meeting, slated for mid‑July, invites more than 60 countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia to share intelligence and coordinate security measures.

The Italian government has decided to attend, but only with a sub‑secretary serving as a diplomatic representative rather than a minister. The decision followed intense domestic debate, with opposition parties condemning the summit as a Trump‑era “McCarthy‑style” campaign against left‑wing activism. Several European governments have either declined the invitation or expressed scepticism about the threat.

Critics argue the summit seeks to politicise anti‑terrorism tools and suppress dissent, while U.S. officials maintain that trans‑national far‑left groups pose a genuine security risk. Italy’s participation is therefore seen as a diplomatic balancing act, maintaining ties with Washington while limiting exposure to the controversy.