The United States has formally withdrawn from the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption monitoring body, the Group of States against Corruption (Greco), citing a reassessment of national interests and the perceived limited benefits to U.S. security. The decision was announced on Monday by the U.S. State Department, marking a shift in Washington’s approach to multilateral anti-corruption efforts.

Established in 1999, Greco is a Strasbourg-based organization dedicated to evaluating and encouraging compliance with anti-corruption standards among its member states. The United States joined in 2000 and was one of only two non-European members, alongside Kazakhstan. The body operates on a peer-review model, issuing recommendations rather than enforcing penalties. Its 48-member budget for 2025 was approximately €3 million (about $3.4 million), funded through member contributions.

A State Department spokesperson explained that the withdrawal followed an internal review of U.S. participation. The spokesperson stressed that the department’s foremost responsibility is protecting American citizens, particularly against corruption that threatens U.S. security and prosperity. They indicated that the membership fee no longer yields sufficiently tangible benefits to justify continued involvement. “The era of writing blank checks to international bureaucracies is over,” the spokesperson said, highlighting a new focus on “higher-impact tools” such as visa restrictions, sanctions, and targeted foreign assistance aimed at supporting corruption investigations abroad that directly affect American interests.

This move is consistent with the Trump administration’s broader trend of disengaging from international organizations perceived as inefficient, overreaching, or misaligned with U.S. priorities. Internal proposals to exit Greco date back to early September.

In response to the U.S. departure, the Council of Europe described America as a “valuable contributor” to Greco’s work and indicated that the organization remains open to future cooperation. Greco’s monitoring system involves exchanging mutual evaluations and recommendations, although its effectiveness has varied across member countries. Its most recent annual report noted that nearly 90% of its suggestions for curbing corruption among parliamentarians, judges, and prosecutors were fully or partially implemented, but progress has been slow in some areas, with numerous cases unresolved after many years.

Greco’s latest evaluation of the United States, published in December 2023, acknowledged strong existing laws and institutions aimed at preventing corruption within the executive branch. However, it also identified gaps, including the absence of a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy and exemptions for the president and vice-president from key conflict-of-interest regulations. Ten recommendations were made to the U.S., including the development of such a strategy. As of now, there is no public report on U.S. compliance with these recommendations.