United States exits Council of Europe anti-corruption watchdog GRECO

Formal notification to Strasbourg

The United States has formally notified the Council of Europe of its withdrawal from the Group of States against Corruption, known as GRECO. The Strasbourg-based institution stated on Tuesday that it had received the official notice from Washington, following delivery on Monday. The move concludes American membership in the multilateral anti-corruption body, which the United States joined in 2000. Membership in the group entails compliance with shared monitoring standards as well as the payment of mandatory annual dues. The Council of Europe noted that Washington delivered the notification formally, making the United States only the third country in GRECO history to terminate its membership.

The US Department of State's primary responsibility is to protect the American people. The United States is focused on combating criminal threats that directly threaten Americans, including corruption undermining American security and prosperity.

Department of State rationale and unilateral strategy

The US Department of State justified the decision by arguing that financial participation in the multilateral group no longer yields tangible benefits for American national security. A department spokesperson explained that the determination followed an official review of American involvement and reflects a policy to act independently rather than through collective oversight. Instead of relying on collective oversight mechanisms, Washington plans to deploy unilateral measures against corrupt actors abroad. The administration indicated it will prioritize targeted visa restrictions, financial sanctions, and specific foreign assistance intended to support criminal investigations overseas that threaten American economic stability and national security.

The era of writing blank checks to international bureaucracies is over.

Watchdog structure, funding, and member departures

GRECO was established in 1999 to monitor whether participating countries adhere to anti-corruption standards developed under the Council of Europe. Although tied to the 46-member Council of Europe, the body permits non-European nations to join, which had left the United States and Kazakhstan as its two non-European participants. For 2025, GRECO operated on a total budget of approximately €3 million (about $3.4 million), which was financed through membership contributions from its 48 constituent states. The exit of the United States follows the departure of Russia in 2023 and Belarus in 2024. Following the notification, the Council of Europe described the United States as a valuable contributor and stated that GRECO remains open to resuming cooperation in the future.

Executive withdrawal policy across international bodies

The withdrawal process began with an internal State Department proposal dated 1 September, according to documentation seen by The Guardian. The departure corresponds with a broader policy mandate established by President Donald Trump in January, when he signed an executive memorandum directing the United States to exit 66 international organizations, commissions, and agencies. While that directive predominantly targeted institutions within the United Nations system, it also encompassed other European advisory organs, including the Council of Europe's Venice Commission. The administration maintains that ending participation in these international bodies will prevent excessive spending while allowing the State Department to concentrate resources on direct law enforcement priorities.