The Trump administration has implemented extensive new penalties against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its efforts to dismantle the tribunal, which the United States alleges has been politicized and unfairly targeted Americans and Israelis with war crimes charges.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed the sanctions on Friday following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to South African prosecutor Navi Pillay, a former judge at the ICC and other international courts. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in winning the Nobel Prize himself, but this action was planned before the award announcement.
Rubio declared in a video message on social media that transactions with the ICC would be prohibited, aiming to disrupt its operations by cutting off resources. He emphasized that the United States and its citizens are not under the jurisdiction of the ICC.
The sanctions freeze any assets the ICC may hold in U.S. jurisdictions and establish a six-month period for American entities conducting business with the court to conclude those activities.
Rubio stated that both Republicans and Democrats have reservations about the court, established to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, he highlighted that only President Trump has taken concrete steps against the ICC.
The ICC condemned the sanctions as an attack on the rule of law and international order. The court’s statement characterized the move as an obstruction of justice and an assault on the principle that everyone is subject to the law.
ICC President Tomoko Akane affirmed the court’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate with independence and impartiality, urging member states to support its mission in upholding the rule of law.
Rubio called on U.S. allies, including NATO members and Japan, to back the actions against the ICC. Failure to do so, he warned, would result in continued efforts to dismantle the ICC until American interests are no longer at risk.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen criticized the sanctions announcement, labeling it a regrettable development. He emphasized the Netherlands’ support for the ICC, as the host country and a staunch defender of the court’s mission.