The Justice Department's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (State CT) co-hosted the third annual meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) in The Hague on July 10 and 11. This event aimed to enhance international cooperation in countering racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE).
REMVE is recognized as a serious global threat, with increasing attacks and transnational linkages exacerbated by technological changes and Russia-linked actors spreading false narratives about REMVE in Ukraine. While significant progress has been made over the past two decades in coordinating efforts against terrorist groups like al-Qa’ida and ISIS, similar routine information sharing for REMVE threats remains underdeveloped.
The CTLEF gathered law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and other criminal justice practitioners from around the world to discuss strategies for effectively addressing REMVE threats. The forum built upon previous discussions held in Berlin and Oslo in 2022 and 2023, respectively. It facilitated a shared understanding of global REMVE activities, including connections between anti-government movements and conspiracy theorists.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division delivered opening remarks alongside U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss. Olsen emphasized the Justice Department’s efforts to combat domestic violent extremists who are inspired by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East to target Jewish and Muslim Americans. He also underscored the importance of international law enforcement cooperation to address the growing transnational connections among REMVE actors who disseminate their ideologies through social media and online gaming platforms.
OPDAT Director Faye Ehrenstamm, along with Deputy Director for Counterterrorism Jill Rose, provided closing remarks at the end of each day’s sessions. Ehrenstamm highlighted the necessity of international collaboration to counter new threats arising from rapid technological advancements and Russia-linked false narratives about REMVE in Ukraine.
Participants included representatives from numerous countries across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, as well as specialists from Europol, INTERPOL, the European Union, Global Counterterrorism Forum, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), among other multilateral organizations.
For more information about OPDAT’s capacity-building efforts globally, visit www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat.