The United States just left the international anti-corruption watchdog. The only other countries to have done that are Russia and Belarus. That’s the full list. Three countries, and we’re one of them now.
GRECO, the Group of States against Corruption, has been monitoring government accountability since 1999. The US joined in 2000 and stayed through every administration since. The State Department’s official reason for leaving: it “does not provide tangible benefits to U.S. national security.” Translation: accountability is inconvenient when you’re the one being watched.
Same week, the administration declined to invite international election observers for November’s midterms. First you leave the anti-corruption group. Then you close the door on election monitors. Russia and Belarus figured this playbook out years ago. Congrats on the company.