The Canadian government is declining to say whether it will participate in a U.S.-led international summit focused on combating what the Trump administration describes as “political terrorism” linked to left-wing extremist movements.
The high-level meeting, hosted in Washington by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is expected to bring together representatives from more than 60 countries as the United States seeks international support for its strategy targeting groups it associates with Antifa and other left-wing activists.
However, the federal government has not confirmed whether Canada was invited or whether any officials will attend. It has also not publicly commented on the initiative, which some security experts argue is driven more by politics than by current threat assessments.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will not attend the summit due to prior commitments, according to her office. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is also not travelling to Washington. The federal government has not indicated whether other Canadian representatives will participate.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said invitations were extended to more than 60 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Security experts say Ottawa’s silence may reflect its efforts to avoid friction with Washington while maintaining its own national security priorities.
Barbara Perry, founding director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, suggested Canada is carefully navigating its relationship with the United States, particularly amid ongoing trade discussions.
She said Ottawa may be reluctant to openly reject the invitation but questioned whether Canada should participate in what she described as a politically charged initiative.
The summit comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its focus on what it considers growing threats from left-wing extremist violence. Although officials frequently refer to Antifa, the movement is not a single organized group but a loose collection of anti-fascist activists.
The White House’s counterterrorism strategy, released in May, identifies violent left-wing extremists—including anarchists and anti-fascists—as one of the country’s three primary terrorism threats, alongside transnational criminal organizations and Islamist extremist groups.
The strategy cites politically motivated attacks against Christians and conservatives, including the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as examples supporting its assessment.
According to the U.S. State Department, discussions at the summit will include cooperation among allied countries to restrict the movement of individuals linked to violent extremist activities, protect critical infrastructure and disrupt financial networks that support terrorism.
Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service analyst Phil Gurski questioned the administration’s priorities, arguing that the strategy largely overlooks threats from far-right extremism.
He said many independent security assessments continue to identify far-right groups as among the most significant domestic security concerns in the United States, adding that he believes the Trump administration’s emphasis on left-wing extremism reflects a political agenda rather than available evidence.
Stephanie Carvin, a professor at Carleton University and former federal national security analyst, said Canada would not necessarily be expected to align with every U.S. security initiative.
While she said sending an observer could help Canada understand the discussions taking place, she noted that Ottawa has historically maintained independent positions on national security matters.
Carvin added that statements from Canadian security agencies suggest Canada does not currently assess the threat posed by left-wing extremism in the same way as the United States.
