Trump administration readies sweeping sanctions against ICC, reports say

Measures targeting the tribunal itself could disrupt payments, IT services and investigations.

The Trump medication is reportedly preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) that could disrupt the tribunal’s finances and day-to-day operations.

The US sanctions would prohibit astir transactions with the ICC aft a grace play of six to 7 months, The Wall Street Journal reported connected Sunday.

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The determination would people a crisp escalation successful Washington’s run against the Hague-based tribunal by targeting the instauration itself alternatively than idiosyncratic judges and prosecutors.

The Trump medication plans to denote the sanctions soon, according to the Reuters quality agency, quoting 2 sources acquainted with the matter.

The Journal, citing anonymous officials, said a determination could beryllium finalised during this week’s United Nations General Assembly gathering successful New York oregon soon afterwards.

If imposed, the measures would mostly barroom US citizens and companies from providing the ICC with money, goods oregon services without a licence from the US Treasury.

Banks and different companies often instrumentality an particularly cautious attack to US sanctions due to the fact that they trust connected entree to the American fiscal system.

The ICC president and registrar person antecedently warned that sanctions connected the organisation arsenic a full could interfere with its quality to bargain accusation exertion and security services, prosecute investigators and marque regular payments, including salaries for American employees.

The ICC was created successful 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, warfare crimes and crimes against humanity erstwhile nationalist authorities are incapable oregon unwilling to bash so.

Washington has already sanctioned much than a twelve ICC judges and prosecutors nether an enforcement bid signed by President Donald Trump successful February 2025.

In August, it added the court’s President Tomoko Akane and elder proceedings lawyer Abdoulaye Seye to the list, with restrictions connected them taking effect connected September 17.

The United States has ne'er joined the court.

The Trump medication says the tribunal has exceeded its authorization by pursuing officials from countries that are not ICC members.

Relations deteriorated sharply aft the tribunal issued apprehension warrants successful November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and erstwhile Defence Minister Yoav Gallant implicit alleged warfare crimes and crimes against humanity successful Gaza.

Israel, similar the US, is not an ICC subordinate and rejects the court’s jurisdiction.

Washington has besides objected to an earlier ICC probe into alleged abuses successful Afghanistan involving US personnel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a run successful July to further isolate the tribunal and urged different countries to retreat from it.

Trump’s determination adds to increasing absorption to the ICC successful caller months.

Chad and Venezuela moved successful July to retreat from the court, pursuing Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Four US-based rights groups sued the Trump medication successful August, arguing that existing sanctions obstruct their ineligible and quality rights work.