WASHINGTON — The United States has withdrawn from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption, known as GRECO.

The Guardian reported Wednesday that the State Department sees membership as providing insufficient benefits to U.S. national security. It plans to prioritize tools including sanctions, visa restrictions and targeted assistance instead.

The timing and background

The withdrawal itself predates today’s coverage. The Council of Europe said Tuesday that it had received formal notification; a U.S. official told the Associated Press that the notice was submitted Monday.

GRECO was founded in 1999 to monitor compliance with the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption standards. The United States joined in 2000. Participation was open beyond European Union countries.

The Council of Europe described the United States as a contributor to shared experience and good practice, and said it remains willing to resume cooperation.

The departure removes Washington from that shared monitoring framework. It does not, by itself, establish that U.S. domestic anti-corruption laws have changed.

Today’s article follows new reporting on the administration’s explanation, while retaining the earlier dates of the decision and notification.

Sources: The Guardian, September 30, updated 11:50 a.m. ET; Associated Press via ABC, September 29.

Supporting image: AI-generated editorial illustration; not a photograph of the event.