US Imposes Sanctions on the International Criminal Court
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced broad new sanctions on the International Criminal Court, saying Washington's aim is to dismantle it. The court called the move an attack on the rule of law, while the EU expressed regret.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed new, wide-ranging sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), the permanent tribunal that hears war crimes and crimes against humanity cases. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Friday, saying Washington's goal is to eliminate the court. The decision matters because it could sharply limit the court's resources and ability to operate, and the US expects its allies to join in.
What the sanctions involve
The sanctions freeze any assets held by the ICC as an institution within US jurisdiction. American companies and individuals who do business with the court have been given six months to end those dealings. Rubio said on social media that transactions with the "illegitimate court" will be banned in order to strip it of resources.
The measures are mainly a response to ICC investigations targeting Israel, a US ally. In 2024 the court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the war in the Gaza Strip. This summer Washington launched a broad diplomatic offensive against the ICC, accusing it of posing a threat to Americans and Israelis.
Rubio said both Republicans and Democrats have serious objections to the court, but that only Trump was ready to act. He said the US expects its allies, many of whom are ICC members, to rein in the court, and that otherwise the campaign will continue.
Reactions
The ICC described the sanctions as an attack on the rule of law and on the foundations of the international legal order, saying they aim to intimidate staff and obstruct its work. Court President Tomoko Akane said the ICC will keep fulfilling its mandate independently and impartially. The court urged its member states to stand with it.
The European Union expressed regret and said it is ready to take any necessary steps to allow the court to continue its work. The European Commission said it hopes the six-month delay means there is room for dialogue. Netanyahu's office, for its part, welcomed the sanctions, calling the ICC a political institution.
The court's status
The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, which entered into force in 2002. A total of 125 states have signed the founding treaty, including all EU member states. The United States, Russia and Israel are not members of the court.
