US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court

Summarised from 9 outlets · 12 reports · Updated 9 Oct, 17:19 · Archive

The Trump administration has imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court, banning transactions with the tribunal.

The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court on Friday, banning transactions with the tribunal and cutting off its resources. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures in a video statement, saying the US would prevent the ICC from prosecuting Americans.

"Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC," Rubio said. He called the court a "rogue" tribunal and "fake" institution, adding that the US does not need it and does not want it. The measures block the court's assets under US jurisdiction and bar US companies and individuals from doing business with it.

This represents an escalation from previous US actions. The Trump administration has previously sanctioned more than a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors, but this is the first time it has targeted the court itself. Rubio has vowed to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick" if necessary, describing it as a "fatally politicized supranational court" that has "maliciously abused its authority".

The administration's stated grievances centre on the ICC's investigation into alleged US military actions in Afghanistan and its arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged crimes in Gaza. The US argues the court has no jurisdiction over it as it never ratified the Rome Statute that established the ICC in 2002, though the court maintains it can prosecute crimes committed on territory under its jurisdiction regardless of the accused's nationality.

The ICC said the sanctions were "an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order" and an attempt to "obstruct the course of justice". ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told Reuters the sanctions "must be condemned" and said the court's work would continue. ICC President Tomoko Akane, who already faces US sanctions, said the court would "continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality".

The announcement came hours after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, a South African human rights official who served as an ICC judge from 2003 to 2008. Pillay also led a UN inquiry that determined Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel disputed.

Rubio said the US had structured the sanctions to allow member states time to negotiate. The Treasury Department is allowing some services to continue and giving the court 180 days to maintain certain operations while member countries address Washington's concerns. The European Union said it was "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work". The ICC currently has 125 member states, including all EU countries and all NATO members except the US and Turkey.

How it is being reported

• Secretary Rubio accuses ICC of wanting 'more power' in sanctions announcementSecretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that the United States imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court.UPI · 9 Oct, 17:43
• US imposes sanctions on International Criminal CourtThe US says the measures are aimed at restricting the tribunal's resources and ability to operate.BBC World · 9 Oct, 17:06
• U.S. sanctions ICC, vowing to dismantle it "brick by brick" without changesThe U.S. imposed fresh sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court, taking action against the court itself after previously penalizing more than a dozen of its judges and prosecutors.CBS News · 9 Oct, 17:02
• ‘Rogue court’: US sanctions ICC hours after ex-judge wins Nobel PrizeUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court on Friday.Al Jazeera · 9 Oct, 16:59
• US sanctions on ICC: a 'test of resilience'Donald Trump's US administration has imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court that threaten to cripple its operations and spark fresh transatlantic tension.France 24 · 9 Oct, 16:19
• International Criminal Court faces 'test of resilience' as US imposes sweeping sanctionsThe Trump administration has imposed sweeping new sanctions on the International Criminal Court as part of its campaign to dismantle what it describes as a "rogue" tribunal, threatening to cripple its operations. Following the move, the European Union said it was "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the court to carry out its work".France 24 · 9 Oct, 16:19
• US imposes sanctions on international criminal courtTrump administration says US ‘doesn’t need’ ICC after accusing court of unfairly targeting Americans for war crime charges The United States imposed sanctions on the international criminal court (ICC), its latest escalation against an entity the Trump administration has accused of politicization and unfairly targeting Americans for war crime charges. The ICC accused Donald Trump’s officials of attempting to “obstruct the course of justice” after “an assault” on the international legal order. Continue reading...Guardian World · 9 Oct, 16:11
• US sanctions International Criminal Court itself in latest escalationLatest action seeks to stem resources to international tribunal Trump administration has vowed to dismantle.Al Jazeera · 9 Oct, 16:08
• Trump hits International Criminal Court with sanctions – hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace PrizeSecretary of State Marco Rubio said the President will ‘never allow’ the ICC to prosecute AmericansIndependent World · 9 Oct, 16:06
• US imposes sanctions aiming to 'dismantle' International Criminal CourtThe US has announced new sanctions on the International Criminal Court. It's the latest in a series of steps by the Donald Trump administration as it seeks to "dismantle" the intergovernmental organization.DW News · 9 Oct, 15:53
• Rubio slaps fresh sanctions on ‘rogue’ International Criminal Court, vows to ‘end the ICC’ if prosecution threats go onWASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced further sanctions Friday against the International Criminal Court and told US allies he expects their help in reining in the “rogue” body. Rubio declared in a statement the US was prohibiting additional transactions with the ICC for threatening to bring cases against American troops, border agents and...New York Post · 9 Oct, 15:30
• US slapping fresh sanctions on ‘unaccountable’ International Criminal CourtThe State Department will impose "further sanctions" on the International Criminal Court in response to its attempts to charge American service members.New York Post · 8 Oct, 16:37

In this story: Donald Trump · Marco Rubio · Benjamin Netanyahu · Navi Pillay · International Criminal Court · United States · The Hague

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