Trump Administration Withdraws from European Anti-Corruption Organization

The Trump administration has officially exited the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), a European organization focused on anti-corruption efforts.

Founded in 1999 by the Council of Europe, GRECO is designed to monitor compliance with anti-corruption standards among its member states. The U.S. had been part of this group since 2000.

This withdrawal aligns with the GOP administration’s ongoing trend of stepping back from multilateral organizations that it views as ineffective or not aligning with U.S. priorities. The State Department backed the decision, asserting that the annual fees for participation do not provide real benefits to U.S. national security.

“The era of writing blank checks to international bureaucracies is over,” stated the State Department. “Instead, we prioritize higher-impact tools to combat corruption, such as visa restrictions, sanctions, and targeted foreign assistance to enhance foreign criminal investigations into corruption that directly threaten U.S. security and prosperity.”

In response, the Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, acknowledged the U.S. as “a valuable contributor” to GRECO, noting its importance in sharing experiences and best practices to prevent and combat corruption.

“GRECO remains open to resuming cooperation with the United States in the future in support of shared efforts to prevent corruption, strengthen integrity, and uphold the rule of law,” the Council said.

This move marks another instance of the U.S. distancing itself from various European multilateral and United Nations bodies, having already pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Human Rights Council, with discussions about additional exits underway.