Nearly 25 years after the September 11 attacks, the United States remains a pivotal actor in global counter-terrorism efforts, but shifts in its priorities under the current administration have raised concerns among security experts and international partners. While American hard power continues to be indispensable in tracking and apprehending high-level terrorist operatives, the country is scaling back its engagement in the multilateral frameworks and softer counter-terrorism initiatives it helped establish after 2001.

At a recent 9/11 remembrance event at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump emphasized the resilience and unity demonstrated by the United States in the wake of the attacks, though notably refrained from highlighting America’s broader role in shaping global counter-terrorism architecture. This reticence marks a departure from the more assertive American posture seen in previous years, even as evolving threats underline the need for sustained leadership.

Local security agencies such as Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) underscore the enduring significance of U.S. involvement. The ISD’s 2026 Terrorism Threat Assessment Report disclosed new information about Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a senior operative of Kata’ib Hizballah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Al-Saadi, charged with nearly 20 attacks across North America and Europe and arrested in Turkey earlier this year, had sought to travel to Singapore multiple times, though his entry was ultimately barred. Singaporean authorities noted that his interest in the region might have included targeting U.S. and Israeli interests there.

Such cases highlight the unique intelligence capabilities and geopolitical leverage wielded by the United States, which enable it to dismantle complex terror networks that few other nations can address independently. Examples of successful cooperation include the 2003 joint U.S.-Thai operation leading to the capture of Jemaah Islamiyah’s operations chief Hambali, which dealt a significant blow to the Southeast Asian militant group.

At the same time, the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from 66 international bodies deemed ineffective—including key counter-terrorism forums like the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund—has sparked disquiet among counter-terrorism professionals. These organizations have played vital roles in fostering cooperation, enhancing criminal justice systems, and funding grassroots efforts to prevent violent extremism, particularly in regions vulnerable to radicalization like Indonesia and the Philippines.

Domestically, the U.S. has shifted counter-terrorism focus towards left-wing groups and drug cartels, a move experts warn may divert attention from persistent Islamist extremist threats as well as right-wing extremism. This strategic recalibration coincides with an intensification of emerging challenges such as online radicalization and “gig terrorism,” issues that hard power alone cannot fully address.

The rising trend of youth involvement in terrorism cases is especially pronounced in Singapore, where the number of young people detained under the Internal Security Act has nearly quadrupled in recent years. Online gaming and social media platforms have been identified as significant channels for radicalization, underscoring the necessity for international cooperation on digital regulation. Given America’s dominance of the global tech and social media landscape, the effectiveness of any regulatory measures without U.S. participation remains uncertain.

Observers suggest that appeals to U.S. leadership on counter-terrorism based on moral or global responsibility arguments are unlikely to resonate with the current administration. Instead, a pragmatic approach emphasizing mutual benefits and shared commitments may be more effective in sustaining American engagement. For the United States, reaffirming its role will involve not only retaining its military and intelligence capabilities but also revitalizing its leadership within the diplomatic and multilateral institutions it established nearly a quarter-century ago. Such a comprehensive approach could reinforce global efforts to counter both traditional and evolving terrorist threats.