Trump administration prepares sanctions against International Criminal Court, source says

The United States has reportedly prepared sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to two sources familiar with the matter. This move could significantly impact the ICC's ability to operate, targeting the entire organization as well as entities that collaborate with it. The Trump administration has long expressed disdain for the court and has worked to undermine its efforts, including working to have arrest warrants dropped against Israeli leaders and an investigation into American troops in Afghanistan.

US officials aim to isolate the court, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on other countries to withdraw from the tribunal in July. The administration has imposed sanctions on some ICC judges and prosecutors but has not yet targeted the court itself, though such a move has been considered. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Targeting the entire ICC could severely disrupt its work, affecting operations such as purchasing IT services, insurance, hiring investigators, and conducting financial transactions. Among the affected operations would be the payment of American employees, the registrar, and president of the ICC. The decision to impose such sanctions could be finalized during the United Nations General Assembly meeting this week.

The sanctions would prohibit US citizens and companies from providing funds, goods, or services to the court without a license from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.