US withdraws from European anti-corruption body

The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), which monitors countries’ compliance with anti-corruption standards and has included the U.S. since 2000. The State Department said annual dues do not deliver tangible national-security benefits and said it would prioritize visa restrictions, sanctions and targeted assistance for investigations into corruption that directly threatens U.S. interests. The Council of Europe described the U.S. as a valuable contributor and said it remained open to future cooperation. The move is part of the administration’s broader retreat from international organizations; it follows other U.S. withdrawals and a decision not to invite international observers to the upcoming midterm elections.