US Withdraws from Council of Europe's Anti-Corruption Group GRECO

The United States has officially withdrawn from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), a leading European anti-corruption body under the Council of Europe. The U.S. State Department confirmed the decision, stating that continued participation, which requires an annual financial contribution, "does not provide tangible benefits to U.S. national security." The Council of Europe acknowledged the U.S. notification on September 29th, noting that only Russia and Belarus had previously left the organization. GRECO expressed openness to future cooperation with the United States.

The State Department indicated a shift in strategy under the Trump administration, moving away from financial contributions to international bureaucratic structures. Instead, the department prioritizes "more effective tools" like visa restrictions, sanctions, and targeted foreign aid to bolster international criminal investigations into corruption that directly threatens U.S. security and prosperity. This withdrawal follows a pattern of the Trump administration disengaging from international organizations, including previous announcements of withdrawal from numerous UN and non-UN bodies and the U.S. ceasing participation and funding for the World Health Organization.

Earlier in the year, President Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, reportedly due to its investigation into alleged war crimes by U.S. forces and its potential arrest warrant for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.