Dr Jessica White reacts to the new US Counterterrorism Strategy

'Fundamentally, this is not a genuine counterterrorism strategy, and its introduction makes clear its political purpose ahead of the mid-term elections later this year. The strategy takes aim at those opposing the ideological viewpoints of the current administration, which leaves the rest of the world in a challenging and potentially dangerous position given the powerful apparatus that the US wields against perceived terrorist threats.'

'Publicly sidelining the intelligence community, which is an essential - albeit not infallible - provider of evidence on which to base decisions, raises concerns about the ‘reality’ informing this strategy. Its narrow framing of the threat landscape risks hardening political assumptions into strategic doctrine, with its emphasis on cartels, jihadist groups and violent left-wing extremism providing a politically resonant framework, but not necessarily a comprehensive assessment of the current threat environment and missing entirely the well-evidenced threat from right-wing extremism.'

'Its focus on Europe takes aim at the liberal values that lay the foundations of democracy, as well as completely ignoring the vulnerabilities created by the hollowing-out of global US development aid funding. Ultimately, rather than a strategy for future protection, it returns to already disproven assumptions and methods that have characterised poor counterterrorism outcomes for almost three decades.'

Dr Jessica White is Director of Terrorism and Conflict Studies at RUSI