United States President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), threatening to cripple its operations over its efforts to prosecute Americans and investigate alleged crimes involving US personnel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Friday, accusing the court of pursuing American citizens and describing it as a “rogue court”.
Rubio said the measures would restrict financial transactions with the institution, cut off access to resources and undermine its ability to function.
“President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans,” he said in a statement.
“That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court. We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate,” he added.
The decision underscores the Trump administration's opposition to the ICC, particularly its investigations into alleged crimes committed by US military personnel in Afghanistan and its arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Washington has consistently challenged the court's authority to exercise jurisdiction over American citizens, arguing that the United States is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the tribunal.
The sanctions have, however, drawn criticism from officials at the court, who insist that the measures will not prevent them from fulfilling their mandate.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan condemned the action, warning that it was an attempt to weaken international justice and undermine the independence of the judiciary.
“The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work that an independent judicial institution is doing,” Khan told Reuters.
She maintained that the court would continue its investigations and prosecutions despite the pressure from Washington.
“Our work will continue across all our situations, our investigations and our prosecutions,” she said.
Founded in 2002, the ICC is responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court has 125 member states, including all European Union countries, and operates from The Hague in the Netherlands.
Although the United States is not a member, the Trump administration's latest action could have consequences extending beyond the individual officials previously targeted by American sanctions.
The restrictions could affect businesses and service providers dealing with the court, potentially disrupting access to banking, insurance, telecommunications and software services.
Under the US sanctions framework, American companies are generally prohibited from conducting business with designated entities unless an exemption or licence applies.
In a move that could limit some immediate disruptions, the US Treasury issued four general licences shortly after the sanctions were announced. The licences permit certain transactions involving telecommunications, software, pension payments and detainees.
The court had reportedly anticipated the possibility of broader sanctions and begun exploring ways to protect its operations from disruptions.
Among the contingency measures was the planned migration of some office computers away from Microsoft products to open-source software. The ICC was also reportedly exploring alternative arrangements for banking and health insurance.
Rubio said the administration had previously held back from imposing sanctions in the hope that the court and its member states would address American concerns.
He warned, however, that Washington was prepared to pursue more aggressive measures if the dispute was not resolved.
“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” he said.
Rubio also called on countries allied with the United States, particularly those that belong to the ICC, to intervene and restrain the court.
“We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American servicemembers for their defence, to rein in the court,” he added.
The secretary of state said the sanctions were structured to provide ICC member states with an opportunity to negotiate a resolution to the dispute.
The development could further strain relations between Washington and European governments, many of which regard the ICC as an important institution for holding individuals accountable for serious international crimes.
The sanctions also raise questions about the ability of the court to carry out investigations involving individuals from countries with significant economic and political influence.
Meanwhile, the announcement coincided with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay, who served as a judge of the ICC Appeals Chamber from 2003 to 2008.
The Nobel committee said the award was intended to draw attention to the importance of international law at a time when judges and legal institutions were increasingly exposed to political pressure.
The contrasting developments have brought renewed attention to the tensions between national sovereignty and international accountability, particularly when investigations involve powerful states or their allies.
With Washington threatening further action and the ICC insisting that it will continue its work, the dispute is expected to intensify diplomatic disagreements over the future of international justice.
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