Key Topics – Bureau of Counterterrorism

Country Reports on Terrorism

U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. This annual report is entitled Country Reports on Terrorism. Beginning with the report for 2004, it replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism.

The report covers developments in countries in which acts of terrorism occurred, countries that are state sponsors of terrorism, and countries determined by the Secretary to be of particular interest in the global war on terror. As provided in the legislation, the report reviews major developments in bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation as well.

• Country Reports on Terrorism
• Annual Report on Assistance Related to International Terrorism

Terrorist Designations and State Sponsors of Terrorism

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

Impacts travel related to terrorist organizations, makes it a crime to provide material support to terrorist organizations, and freezes the financial accounts of terrorist organizations in U.S. financial institutions.

Executive Order 13224

Designates both individuals as well as organizations, and contains provisions to block/freeze tangible property.

State Sponsors of Terrorism

Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.

Terrorist Exclusion List

Section 411 of the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001 (8 U.S.C. § 1182) authorized the Secretary of State, in consultation with or upon the request of the Attorney General, to designate terrorist organizations for immigration purposes.

Terrorist Designations Press Releases

Contains the list of press releases detailing State Department Terrorist Designations.

Programs and Initiatives

The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) works to strengthen partnerships, civilian capacity, and information sharing around the world to counter evolving terrorist threats and prevent the spread of violent extremism. CT designs, manages, and oversees foreign assistance to build the civilian capabilities of foreign government partners to counter terrorism and violent extremism in an effective and sustainable fashion. CT seeks to build law enforcement and judicial capabilities to mitigate attacks, disrupt terrorist transit, and arrest, investigate, prosecute, and incarcerate terrorists in accordance with the rule of law. To bolster these efforts, CT seeks to promote the leadership of other countries to build capacity in third countries in their regions. CT also seeks to strengthen partnerships and initiatives involving government and non-governmental actors to counter sources of violent extremist messaging, narratives, and recruitment.

• Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA)
• Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)
• Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF)
• Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)
• Technical Support Working Group (TSWG)
• Terrorist Screening and Interdiction Programs (TSI)
• Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP)
• Partnership for Regional East African Counterterrorism (PREACT)

Global Counterterrorism Forum

The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) is a multilateral counterterrorism body with 30 founding members (29 countries plus the EU) from around the world. Launched on September 22, 2011, the GCTF is a broader effort to build the international architecture for 21st century terrorism. It provides a unique platform for senior counterterrorism policymakers and experts from around the world to work together to identify urgent needs, devise solutions and mobilize resources for addressing key counterterrorism challenges. With its primary focus on capacity building and countering violent extremism, the GCTF aims to increase the number of countries capable of addressing terrorist threats within their borders and regions. Learn more about our programs and initiatives. Please visit theGCTF.org  for more information.