The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to impose sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, these measures would target the institution itself, potentially disrupting its financial operations, information technology services, and ongoing investigations.
The proposed sanctions would prohibit most transactions between US citizens or companies and the Hague-based tribunal following a grace period of six to seven months. Such restrictions would require entities to obtain a license from the US Treasury to provide the court with money, goods, or services. Officials noted that the move could complicate the court’s ability to pay salaries, secure insurance, and hire investigators.
The Trump administration has previously sanctioned individual ICC judges and prosecutors, including President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, whose restrictions took effect on September 17. The United States is not a member of the ICC and has consistently argued that the court exceeds its authority by pursuing officials from non-member nations.
Tensions between Washington and the court intensified following the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza. Additionally, the US has long opposed ICC investigations into alleged abuses in Afghanistan involving American personnel.
In July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign to further isolate the court and encouraged other nations to withdraw their membership. While the administration plans to finalize the new measures soon, potentially during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the policy faces domestic opposition. In August, four US-based rights groups filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming that existing sanctions hinder their legal and human rights work.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com