U.S. imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court

The United States announced new sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, shortly after a former ICC judge was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The measures, announced by the State Department, prohibit U.S. transactions with the court and its officials, a step described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as aimed at preventing the ICC from prosecuting Americans.

"President Trump will never allow the International Court to prosecute Americans," Rubio 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."

The ICC responded that the sanctions seek to undermine an independent court supported by more than half of United Nations members. ICC President Tomoko Akane, who is also subject to the U.S. sanctions, said the court will continue its mandate with independence and impartiality, emphasizing the importance of accountability for grave crimes.

"The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes," Akane said.

A coalition of ICC member states, including Germany, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for the court’s independence and expressing disagreement with the U.S. sanctions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the United States, describing the ICC as a political body that threatens national sovereignty.

The sanctions follow a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at limiting the ICC’s reach, including earlier restrictions on ICC officials and statements that the United States does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.