Washington, DC — The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions Friday on the International Criminal Court, escalating a campaign against the tribunal by targeting the institution itself rather than only individual judges and prosecutors.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions will prohibit transactions with the ICC and eventually cut the court off from U.S. financial services, technology providers and the dollar-based banking system. American companies will receive a six-month period to end affected business relationships.
The United States is not a member of the ICC and has long disputed the court’s authority over Americans. The Trump administration has also objected to ICC investigations involving Israel, including its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as investigations involving alleged wrongdoing by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
Rubio said the measures are intended to protect American sovereignty and warned that the administration would continue escalating pressure unless the court changes course.
The ICC, which has 125 member states, called the sanctions an unprecedented effort to obstruct justice and interfere with investigations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The move drew criticism from numerous U.S. allies, including European governments and Japan, which argued that the court must remain capable of operating independently. Israel welcomed the sanctions.
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