US bans certain transactions with International Criminal Court

The United States has recently banned certain transactions involving the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the signing of Executive Order 14203 by President Donald Trump in February 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that this move aims to cut off the court's resources and hinder its operations, even though the U.S. is not an ICC member.

The Department of the Treasury issued a series of general licenses (GLs) to allow specific transactions with the ICC, primarily to safeguard U.S. interests. One GL, valid for 180 days, covers various ICC activities, including maintaining its operations and certain IT-related services like cloud and software services. Additional GLs authorize undertakings related to the Hague-based ICC pension plan and specific activities pertaining to ICC detainees.

The 180-day GL is intended to provide time for ICC member states to address U.S. concerns regarding the ICC through diplomatic and legal resolutions. However, the ICC has denounced these sanctions as an unprecedented attempt to obstruct justice and impede its mission to uphold the rule of law and the international legal order. ICC President Tomoko Akane reaffirmed the court's commitment to its mandate with independence and impartiality, emphasizing its dedication to serving the countless victims of grave crimes.