Washington Escalates Against Political Islam: U.S. Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as Terrorist Organizations

2026-01-13 05:07:27

Washington – In what is being described as the most sweeping and decisive move in years, the United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy toward transnational political Islam movements.

Details of the Decision

According to U.S. officials, the designation includes:

• The Lebanese branch: Listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), criminalizing any form of material or logistical support and imposing severe legal penalties on individuals and entities linked to it.

• The Egyptian and Jordanian branches: Classified as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entities, resulting in asset freezes, financial sanctions, and restrictions on affiliated individuals and networks.

The U.S. State Department stated that the move followed extensive intelligence and security assessments, which concluded that these branches were either directly or indirectly involved in activities that threaten regional stability or contribute to environments conducive to extremism.

Political and Security Context

Analysts argue that the decision reflects:

• A broader U.S. redefinition of “terrorist threats” to include organizational and ideological structures, even when not overtly armed, if they are found to support or facilitate violence or undermine state institutions.

• A post–October 7, 2023 policy shift, expanding counterterrorism efforts beyond militant wings to include ideological, financial, and logistical networks.

• Alignment with regional allies that view the Muslim Brotherhood as a systemic threat to national security and state sovereignty.

Potential Regional Implications

The designation is expected to:

• Increase political and legal pressure on Muslim Brotherhood–linked networks in Europe and North America, particularly in relation to funding, advocacy, and civil society operations.

• Create limited diplomatic friction with actors and governments that maintain engagement with Brotherhood-affiliated movements.

• Reignite international debate over whether the Muslim Brotherhood should be treated as a unified transnational organization rather than as separate national entities.

Background

Founded in 1928 in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has expanded across the Arab and Islamic worlds. While it presents itself as a religious and political movement, several governments accuse it of undermining state authority, supporting armed groups, or providing ideological cover for extremism, leading to its designation as a terrorist organization in multiple countries.