The United States has withdrawn from a major European anti-corruption organization, marking another change in Washington’s approach to international institutions under President Donald Trump.
The U.S. formally notified the Council of Europe that it was leaving the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), an organization established to monitor countries’ compliance with anti-corruption standards. The move was confirmed this week by the Council of Europe and the U.S. State Department.
The decision comes as the Trump administration reassesses U.S. participation in international and multilateral organizations, with officials arguing that some institutions provide insufficient benefits to American national interests.
Why the US Is Leaving GRECO
The State Department said U.S. participation in GRECO requires an annual financial contribution but does not provide sufficient tangible benefits to U.S. national security.
The department said Washington intends to focus instead on anti-corruption measures it considers more directly effective, including visa restrictions, sanctions and targeted foreign assistance designed to support investigations into corruption affecting U.S. security and economic interests.
The administration has described the broader policy as a shift away from what it considers costly or ineffective international bureaucracies.
What Is GRECO?
GRECO was created by the Council of Europe in 1999 to help countries prevent and combat corruption through monitoring, peer review and recommendations.
Its membership extends beyond the European Union. The United States joined GRECO in September 2000 and had remained involved for more than two decades.
GRECO evaluates national anti-corruption frameworks and examines areas including public-sector integrity, prevention measures and the implementation of recommendations.
The organization currently works with dozens of member states and continues to conduct country evaluations and monitoring activities.
Council of Europe Calls US a Valuable Contributor
The Council of Europe responded by acknowledging the U.S. departure while highlighting Washington’s previous participation.
The organization said the United States had been a valuable contributor to GRECO and to the exchange of experience and good practices in preventing and combating corruption.
It also said GRECO remains open to renewed cooperation with the United States in the future on efforts involving corruption prevention, integrity and the rule of law.
The departure makes the United States only the third country to leave GRECO, following Russia and Belarus.
Another Step Away From European Institutions
The GRECO withdrawal is part of a broader series of changes in U.S. involvement with international organizations.
The United States previously withdrew from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, an advisory body focused on constitutional and legal matters.
Washington has also taken steps involving other international organizations, including the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council. The administration has argued that some international bodies have exceeded their mandates, operated inefficiently or failed to align with U.S. priorities.
The latest move therefore extends a wider reassessment of American participation in multilateral institutions.
US Also Changes Approach to Election Observers
The GRECO decision came shortly after another notable development involving a European organization.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the United States had declined to invite its members to observe the November congressional midterm elections. Such election observation has been part of previous U.S. practice.
The change has added to questions about Washington’s evolving relationship with international organizations and monitoring bodies.
US Anti-Corruption Policy Moves Toward Direct Measures
The Trump administration says leaving GRECO does not mean abandoning efforts to combat corruption internationally.
Instead, State Department officials say the United States will emphasize tools that can be used directly against individuals and organizations, including sanctions, visa restrictions and assistance for foreign criminal investigations.
The approach places greater emphasis on bilateral or targeted actions rather than participation in a multilateral monitoring framework.
Meanwhile, GRECO continues its evaluation work among remaining members. Its current activities include assessments of national anti-corruption measures and recommendations aimed at strengthening public integrity and preventing corruption.
A Significant Change in US International Engagement
The U.S. departure from GRECO represents a notable change after more than 25 years of American participation.
For Washington, the decision reflects the administration’s stated preference for direct tools that it believes provide clearer benefits to U.S. security and economic interests. For the Council of Europe, the withdrawal removes a long-standing member and contributor from its anti-corruption framework.
The broader impact will depend on how the United States develops its international anti-corruption partnerships and whether cooperation with European institutions resumes in the future.
