US Prepares Sanctions Against International Criminal Court

The administration of US President Donald Trump is moving towards imposing sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court (ICC), according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The action is intended to step up US opposition to the tribunal, which prosecutes war crimes and genocide worldwide.

US officials have demanded that the ICC drop its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and also halt investigations into American troops in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July called for international efforts to isolate the court, urging other countries to withdraw from it.

While sanctions have already been placed on several ICC judges and prosecutors, the United States has so far not imposed direct measures against the institution as a whole. The prepared sanctions, which could be announced during the current United Nations General Assembly meeting, would prohibit US citizens and companies from supplying funds, goods, or services to the ICC without permission from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Such comprehensive sanctions could significantly disrupt the ICC's daily operations, including purchasing services and insurance, employing investigators, and conducting routine financial transactions. The court’s registrar and president have warned that these activities, including payment of American staff, could be adversely affected.

The Trump administration’s resistance to the ICC dates back to the president’s first term and intensified after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on allegations related to the Gaza conflict.

Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the ICC. Established by the international community in 2002, the court asserts jurisdiction only if a member state is unwilling or unable to prosecute cases of war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity.