Can Europe save the world’s war crimes court from Trump?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its staff received the European Union's prestigious Sakharov Prize for Human Rights, an official announced on Thursday. The award came just days after the Trump administration imposed strict sanctions on the court, aiming to weaken it due to investigations into the U.S. and its allies, including Israel.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who delivered the announcement in Strasbourg, France, praised the court for its vital role in upholding international law and justice. She highlighted the significance of the Sakharov Prize, which is awarded to individuals or groups defending human rights and basic freedoms, during a period when the ICC and its officials face unprecedented challenges.

The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes senior leaders responsible for crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. The Trump administration's sanctions restricted the court's access to U.S.-based financial services, technology companies, and the use of U.S. dollars, giving U.S. entities six months to discontinue cooperation with the court.

EU leaders expressed deep regret over the sanctions, urging the U.S. to reverse them and indicated readiness to implement necessary measures if diplomacy fails. One potential retaliation is the EU blocking statute, which could protect European court staff and the court itself from U.S. measures.