US hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions as part of drive to dismantle tribunal
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration has imposed sweeping new sanctions on the International Criminal Court as part of its campaign to dismantl
In a move to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Trump administration has imposed stringent sanctions on the tribunal, aiming to eliminate its capacity to investigate the United States and its allies, including Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge.
Rubio stated, "We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate against us."
The sanctions target U.S.-based financial services, technology firms, and the use of U.S. dollars by the ICC. They also grant a six-month window for U.S. entities involved with the court to cease their operations. The ICC reacted strongly, calling these sanctions an attack on the rule of law and the international legal order. President Tomoko Akane of the ICC emphasized the court's commitment to its mandate and urged member states for support.
Amnesty International's Erika Guevara Rosas called for states to resist the sanctions and protect the ICC. The Netherlands, the ICC's host country, prepared measures to counter the U.S. sanctions, including the European Union's blocking statute. However, the Dutch foreign minister highlighted this as a "nuclear option" and said the Netherlands was in discussions with the European Commission to expedite its implementation if needed.
An international coalition of Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom expressed strong disagreement with the sanctions. They pledged to continue supporting the ICC's work, uphold the rule of law, and promote accountability. The sanctions, if enacted, would significantly impact the ICC's operations, its staff, and their families.
The court, which aims to bring perpetrators of the most serious international crimes to justice, has already faced withdrawals from countries like Venezuela, Chad, and recently, the South Pacific island nation of Nauru.
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