The Trump administration has imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it needs to prohibit the tribunal’s assets and means to operate.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures – which embody a ban on US entities making transactions with the ICC – were meant to “defend US sovereignty” and accused the court of searching for to prosecute Americans.
The ICC said the measures were an assault on the rule of law and the foundations of the worldwide legal order.
The announcement comes just hours after former ICC decide Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and worldwide law.
US President Donald Trump has reacted sourly to the Norwegian prize’s selection of winner this 12 months and last, after having expressed a want to obtain it himself. He criticised Pillay for being half of a panel that accused Israel, as properly as Hamas, of battle crimes during the 7 October battle.
The US says the ICC has no jurisdiction over it as it never ratified the statute founding it – but the worldwide court has investigated US actions elsewhere.
Rubio said Trump would not enable the ICC to prosecute Americans, including: “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.”
The US sanctions will stop US corporations from offering items or providers to the ICC, such as banking or software program.
Rubio said Washington had delayed imposing the sanctions in the hope that the ICC and its member international locations would tackle US issues. He said the measures had been structured to enable other international locations to negotiate a doable resolution.
He also called on US allies that were ICC signatories to “rein in” the establishment.
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