On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed representatives from over 60 nations gathered in Washington for the Ministerial Conference on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism. He highlighted the Cuban regime as a pivotal force in the development of violent left-wing movements across the Western Hemisphere.
During his speech, Rubio asserted that the Cuban regime's extensive intelligence network and ideology have played a crucial role in building the extreme left both domestically and internationally. He emphasized their ongoing connections with far-left groups and movements beyond the Western context.
The U.S. diplomat recalled that "tens of thousands of Marxist guerrillas" were "trained to kill in Castro's terrorist camps," referring to the network of camps operated by Fidel Castro's regime from the late 1960s. These camps were used to indoctrinate and arm fighters from various continents.
Rubio drew historical parallels linking these camps to groups such as the Tupamaros, Montoneros, FARC, ELN, and Sendero Luminoso in Latin America, as well as the Italian Red Brigades, Germany's Red Army Faction, and Greece's November 17th organization. He connected these to the current wave of extreme left-wing violence affecting Europe and the United States.
Supporting his claims, Rubio cited stark statistics: between 1970 and 1980, 93% of terrorist attacks in the West came from the far-left. In just 18 months, from 1971 to 1972, the FBI recorded 2,500 attacks in the United States, averaging almost five per day.
Rubio criticized Western counterterrorism efforts for having a "blind spot" towards this threat, as they focused mainly on jihadist extremism. While acknowledging successes in that area—such as a two-thirds drop in jihadist attacks in the U.S. since the peak of ISIS and a 97% reduction in related deaths in Europe from 2015 to 2024—he warned of a renewed left-wing threat.
As evidence of current dangers, he cited incidents such as a 72-year-old woman being burned alive in Greece, a five-day blackout in Berlin during winter that led to the death of an 83-year-old woman, and the beating death of a 23-year-old Frenchman in Lyon.
Rubio noted a more than 40% increase in far-left violence in Germany over the last year and stated that over 80% of radical violence in Greece originates from far-left and anarchist actors. He also highlighted the transnational connections of these groups, including ties with Iranian proxy networks increasingly involved with leftist militants worldwide.
He concluded his address with a call for collective action: "We must cooperate across our borders, or terrorists will continue to exploit the gaps between them." Rubio announced upcoming designations of groups as foreign terrorist organizations and revealed that the next counterterrorism workshop will be co-organized with Germany.
The conference took place amid Washington's ongoing pressure campaign against Havana. Just three days prior, on July 13, the U.S. imposed its eighth round of sanctions on 10 additional Cuban entities, including the Rapid Response Brigades and the Ministry of Tourism.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has enacted over 240 sanctions against Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez responded on Wednesday, denouncing the conference as "McCarthyist" and grounded in "lies," advising Rubio to "read history." Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío described it as a "smokescreen."
China also defended the regime, condemning the sanctions imposed days earlier.
Understanding Castro's Impact on Left-Wing Violence
What role did Castro's camps play in left-wing violence?
Castro's camps were instrumental in training and indoctrinating Marxist guerrillas from various continents, fostering left-wing militant groups that have caused significant violence worldwide.
How did Rubio describe the threat of left-wing terrorism?
Rubio depicted it as a resurgent threat, historically connected to a majority of past terrorist attacks in the West, and emphasized the need to address it alongside jihadist extremism.
What recent incidents illustrate the threat of left-wing violence?
Recent incidents include a woman being burned alive in Greece, a fatal blackout in Berlin, and a murder in Lyon, highlighting the ongoing danger of extreme left-wing violence.