U.S. Department of State :The Week at State: July 10 - July 16, 2026

 

July 10 - July 16 Secretary Rubio will travel to Manila to reaffirm U.S. commitment to ASEAN, represent U.S. interests at the East Asia Summit, and deepen our partnership with the Philippines.   Here’s what happened at State this week.  Secretary Rubio hosted the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism to counter transnational far-left networks. The State Department launched a sweeping campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court’s threat to U.S. sovereignty. The United States imposed further sanctions on the Cuban regime's sources of funding and tools of oppression. Countering the Resurgence of Political Terrorism Secretary Rubio delivers opening remarks at the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., July 16. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett) On July 16, Secretary Rubio hosted the Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism to address the rise of far-left political terrorism as a transnational threat. The Ministerial brought together partners from across the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Asia to: Expand coordination Enhance information sharing Strengthen international law enforcement mechanisms to counter the threat Far-left political terrorism is resurgent, manifesting in violent terrorist acts across the globe targeting private citizens, government officials, police and law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure. "For far too long, however, our counterterrorism doctrine has had a blind spot. A blind spot when it comes to extremist violence from the political left,” said Secretary Rubio in his opening remarks. Under President Trump, the United States is building the infrastructure, the partnership, and the strategy to defeat the scourge of far-left terror. The President signed National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, outlining a comprehensive strategy to investigate and disrupt Antifa terror networks and their allies. Last November, the State Department designated four violent far-left extremist groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.  In December, we announced Rewards for Justice, offering up to $10 million for information disrupting the financing behind these groups. In May, we convened the first Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Workshop, joining American law enforcement officials and their counterparts in partner countries to map and develop strategies for dismantling these networks. The Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism advances this work. The ICC's Threat to American Sovereignty On July 13, Secretary Rubio announced a sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed to U.S. sovereignty by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The campaign will feature a whole-of-government response to systematically disable the ICC's ability to operate, target American servicemen or officials, or otherwise threaten American sovereignty. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Secretary Rubio announced that the United States would dismantle the ICC “brick by brick, if necessary,” using “all the tools at our government's disposal.” The ICC poses an intolerable threat to U.S. sovereignty by claiming authority to prosecute and even imprison American servicemen and officials operating on behalf of America's national interest, according to the State Department. “No diplomatic option will be off-limits in the campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to Americans,” the Department emphasized. Continued Pressure for Reform in Cuba On July 13, the Department of State designated ten entities to further the Trump Administration's push to end the Cuban regime's malign activities, both in Cuba and across the hemisphere. The actions target state-owned entities that funnel revenue to the regime as well as paramilitary forces, armed civilian groups, and surveillance organizations that repress the Cuban people. Taken pursuant to Executive Order 14404, the actions target pillars of the regime's oppressive apparatus, including the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba and state-owned maritime entities. The sanctions follow the fifth anniversary of the Cuban regime's brutal suppression of popular protests on July 11. "The United States will continue to use every tool at our disposal to both address the national security threats posed by the Cuban Communist regime, and to drive the economic and political reforms," Secretary Rubio said. News You May Have Missed The United States announced its intention to provide $100 million over the next two years to combat global child mortality through Operation End Starvation, an American non-governmental organization and public-private partnership. The U.S. applauded the Venezuelan National Assembly and interim government’s announcement of a joint agenda to begin August 1 to advance the nation’s stability, democracy, and national recovery. The Department designated the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists for numerous attacks against Americans, Mexican security forces, and civilians. Note to Our Readers  We welcome feedback at EmailTeam@state.gov  Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to The Week at State for weekly updates on important work, activities, and news straight from the State Department. 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