US Sanctions ICC as Court Vows to Continue Its Work

New US sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution threaten its ability to finance and maintain operations, escalating the Trump administration's confrontation with the international judicial body over its investigations and arrest warrants. Announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the measures restrict transactions between US entities and the court, which serves 125 member states and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

According to the BBC, Washington has introduced a six-month grace period before some of the restrictions take effect, allowing member states time to negotiate a response to US concerns. The measures go beyond previous sanctions against individual judges and officials by directly targeting the institution's financial and operational capacity.

The announcement followed the award of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former ICC judge Navi Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The United States has previously sanctioned 17 ICC judges and officials, according to the BBC.

The US administration objects to the court's authority to pursue cases involving American personnel and Israeli officials. Washington has criticized an investigation into the actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan, which the court has since closed, and the ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The latest sanctions do not explicitly require the warrants to be withdrawn before the restrictions can be lifted.

Rubio said the measures were intended to protect American sovereignty and prevent the prosecution of US citizens by the court. He also urged US allies that belong to the ICC, including the United Kingdom, to take action to limit its activities.

Rubio said, "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC."

The restrictions are expected to affect the court's access to services provided by US companies, including banking and software. The administration said the delayed implementation was intended to give the ICC and its member states time to address Washington's objections.

The ICC rejected the sanctions, describing them as an attack on the rule of law and the foundations of the international legal order. The court said the measures were designed to disrupt its operations and intimidate employees and those who cooperate with it.

The ICC said, "The Court, for its part, will not be deterred."

The court also emphasized that its mandate derives from an international treaty and the collective commitment of its 125 member states. It called on governments to take concrete steps to ensure that it retains the resources necessary to continue its work.

ICC President Tomoko Akane defended the institution's independence and its responsibility to victims of serious crimes.

Akane said, "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".

The ICC also warned that the consequences extend beyond the institution itself, affecting the international commitment to hold perpetrators of the most serious crimes accountable. The court stressed that its investigations and prosecutions must remain grounded in law and evidence.

In response to the US decision, the United Kingdom joined Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands in reaffirming their continued support for the ICC. The statement signaled backing from several US allies as the dispute intensified.

The Netherlands faces particular pressure because The Hague hosts the court. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has warned that the sanctions would seriously affect the ICC's ability to function, according to the BBC.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized Washington's move, calling it a serious setback for international criminal justice and emphasizing the ICC's role in that system.

Guterres said, "A serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar".

Established in 2002, the ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. Its member states operate under the Rome Statute, the treaty that establishes the court's mandate and framework for international criminal accountability.