US unveils sanctions on ICC in move court condems as 'assault on rule of law'

The Trump administration has imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court itself, marking a major escalation in its conflict with the institution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures, which include banning US entities from conducting transactions with the ICC, aim to "defend US sovereignty" and stop what he called a "rogue" court from prosecuting Americans.

The sanctions prohibit US companies from providing goods or services to the ICC, including banking and software support. The administration has built in a six-month grace period before some measures take effect, giving member states time to negotiate what Washington calls a "solution" to address its concerns. Rubio stated: "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC."

The ICC rejected the characterization. In a statement, the court said the sanctions constituted "an assault on the rule of law" and vowed it "will not be deterred." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the move "a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar."

The US has already sanctioned 17 ICC judges and officials, but this action targets the institution as a whole. The Trump administration views the court as controlled by "globalists" who threaten American sovereignty. Washington is particularly upset over a past ICC investigation into US soldiers' actions in Afghanistan, which the court has since closed, and arrest warrants the ICC issued for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu welcomed the sanctions, calling the ICC "not a court" but a political body.

Seven major US allies, including the UK, Canada, Germany, France and the Netherlands, reaffirmed their support for the ICC and said they "regret and strongly disagree with" the sanctions. The Netherlands, which hosts the court in The Hague, faces particular pressure. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen warned the sanctions would seriously damage the court's ability to function.

The ICC was founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It counts 125 countries as member states. The US, Russia, China, India and Israel remain outside the court.

The timing drew attention: Rubio's announcement came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting peace and international law.