Ambassador Tammy Bruce
Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations
New York, New York
AS DELIVERED
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Thank you, Madam President. It’s a pleasure to see you, personally, behind that placard, and to see Denmark in their presidency this month. And, of course, also a thanks to the DRC for the work that they’ve done leading up to this, and to our briefers today.
Since the Council’s last briefing on this issue in February, the United States released its new national Counterterrorism Strategy on May 6, identifying three priority threats: narco-terrorists and transnational gangs, legacy Islamist terrorists, and violent left-wing extremists.
Countering ISIL, al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates remains a key priority. These groups continue to exploit instability–as evidenced by al-Qa’ida’s gains in the Sahel, ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, and the persistent threat from ISIL-K in Afghanistan.
As referenced in the 23rd report, the growing exploitation of satellite communications, artificial intelligence, drones, and cryptocurrencies further complicates this landscape and demands vigilance from Member States and the private sector.
We commend Member States whose operations and financial disruption efforts have constrained ISIL and al-Qa’ida in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia. We also recognize Iraq’s leadership in repatriating detained and displaced persons from northeast Syria, and encourage efforts to follow suit, prosecute ISIL-affiliated nationals, and prevent returning foreign terrorist fighters from evading detection.
Beyond the jihadist threat, Iran and its proxies and partners–including the Houthis, Hizballah, Hamas, and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq–continue destabilizing the Middle East and seeking broader reach. Expanded information sharing is vital to prevent them from acquiring critical weapons and to constrain their actions.
Cartels and transnational criminal organizations threaten our citizens’ safety. Since January 2025, the United States has designated 20 Western Hemisphere cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists–most recently Mexico’s Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras–and these groups now project influence beyond the Hemisphere. We will not allow the region to become a sanctuary for those who threaten our security.
It is critical that we work together to disrupt the production and movement of synthetic drugs, eradicate transnational organized crime, and combat terrorist travel.
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We are increasingly concerned by resurgent political terrorism, particularly far-left groups, reflected in the November 2025 U.S. designation of violent Antifa-aligned organizations as foreign terrorist organizations. For too long governments have turned a blind eye to this resurgent threat. Designations alone are insufficient–we must strengthen information sharing on the tactics, networks, funding, and malign state actors enabling this violence, especially as it converges with organized crime and antisemitic movements.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11–a quarter of a century–the United States looks to all Member States and the UN to refocus on core, actionable priorities and deliver measurable results. We will not support institutions that are redundant, mismanaged, or misaligned with our priorities. Together, we must protect our citizens and borders from terrorist threats.
Thank you.