Colombia ICC Withdrawal: Reports Say Bogotá May Quit the War Crimes Court
Caracol Radio reported on 18 August 2026 that Colombia is set to leave the International Criminal Court. The government has not confirmed it, and no legal step has been filed. The post Colombia ICC Withdrawal: Reports Say Bogotá May Quit the War Crimes Court appeared first on The Rio Times .
Reports from Caracol Radio on 18 August 2026 suggest that the Colombian government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The news broke at 6AM on their W programme, with the director, Julio Sánchez Cristo, describing the story as unofficial but treated as a done deal by sources inside the court. Caracol Radio reported this to Infobae Colombia, who also emphasized that no confirmation had been given by the Colombian state.
The withdrawal would take a full year to complete, with Colombia still owing assistance on existing cases. Neither the Presidency nor the Foreign Ministry have published any confirmation of a formal procedure, nor is there a bill in the congressional record indicating any withdrawal plan. The president took office in August 2026, following a campaign focused on security.
His foreign minister previously mentioned reviewing the country's international commitments, including the Rome Statute, which underpins the ICC. While the government does not plan to abandon the international community, there are concerns about a potential cost-benefit analysis of each agreement. The ICC itself, based in The Hague, handles genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression, with a one-year withdrawal period after written notice to the UN Secretary-General.
Even after withdrawal, Colombia remains obligated to cover costs incurred while a member, as per Article 127 of the Rome Statute. The article also states that withdrawal does not affect ongoing investigations and proceedings. Colombia's membership in the ICC began in 2002, following the signing of the Rome Statute and its approval by Colombian Congress.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a court created by the 2016 peace accord, has been working on cases related to the armed conflict. However, there are reports that the new government may want to dismantle the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. Meanwhile, the US has encouraged other members of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition to leave the ICC, emphasizing sovereignty.
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