US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, bans transactions with it
In short
The administration of US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 9 October, banning financial operations with it, according to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited by Reuters. Transactions needed to keep the court running or wind it down are allowed until 7 April 2027, and Rome Statute states were given 180 days to make progress on disagreements with Washington. The ICC condemned the sanctions as "an encroachment on the rule of law and the foundations of the international legal order".
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The administration of US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 9 October, Russian outlets reported, citing Reuters and a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Kommersant reported that the US Treasury added the court to its sanctions list, according to the website of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The sanctions ban all financial operations with the court, but OFAC allowed operations needed to maintain its work or wind down its activities until 7 April 2027. RIA Novosti reported that the State Department gave Rome Statute states 180 days to make progress in settling disagreements with Washington over the court's work. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
"President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans," Rubio said, adding that Washington would ban transactions with the court, cutting off its resources and paralysing its ability to function. RIA Novosti quoted him as calling the ICC a "rogue court"; Vedomosti rendered the phrase as "illegal court". RIA Novosti reported that he left room for negotiations while warning of readiness for radical steps and calling on allies to intervene. TASS quoted him as saying the US was ready for a diplomatic solution and that "the United States and its people are not subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court". Vedomosti, citing Reuters, reported that the sanctions could potentially affect companies providing services to the court. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 14 ]
The ICC rejected the sanctions, calling them "an encroachment on the rule of law and the foundations of the international legal order", according to its statement cited by Reuters. RIA Novosti reported the court as saying the sanctions were aimed at disrupting its work, and Vedomosti reported that it called them an unprecedented step. Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan condemned the sanctions and said they would not stop the court's work. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 13 , 15 ]
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi expressed concern and pledged support for the court so that it can "continue to fulfil its role", TASS reported. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the new sanctions an escalation and said the Netherlands intends to use the six-month delay before they enter into force for negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump and Rubio and called the court a political body posing a mortal threat to law-abiding democratic states. [ 11 , 12 , 16 ]
The sanctions came hours after former ICC judge Navanethem "Navi" Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Kommersant reported that Trump wrote soon after the award that "the Nobel Committee disgraced itself". The US had earlier sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors, including court president Tomoko Akane, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. Meduza linked US dissatisfaction to the court's arrest warrant for Israeli officials including Netanyahu and to a now-closed investigation into US soldiers in Afghanistan. RIA Novosti reported that Trump called on all members to leave the court at the UN General Assembly in late September. On 8 October TASS, citing the New York Post, reported an internal memo saying the ICC seeks to become an "unaccountable global arbiter". [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Why it matters
Reuters, cited by Vedomosti, noted that the sanctions could potentially affect companies that provide services to the court. Rubio said the ban was meant to cut off the court's resources and paralyse its ability to function. Japan's prime minister expressed concern and the Dutch foreign minister called the sanctions an escalation, while Israel's prime minister thanked Trump and Rubio for the decision.
Key facts
- The US Treasury added the International Criminal Court to its sanctions list, according to the website of its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). [ 9 ]
- The sanctions ban all financial operations with the ICC. [ 2 , 3 , 9 ]
- OFAC allowed financial operations needed to maintain the court's work or wind down its activities until 7 April 2027. [ 2 , 9 ]
- The State Department gave Rome Statute states 180 days to make progress in settling disagreements with Washington over the court's work. [ 2 ]
- Rubio said President Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- The ICC called the sanctions an encroachment on the rule of law and the foundations of the international legal order. [ 2 , 10 , 15 ]
- The sanctions came hours after former ICC judge Navanethem "Navi" Pillay received the Nobel Peace Prize. [ 5 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC that ban operations with the court. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- Rubio said the US would ban transactions with the court, cutting off its resources and its ability to function. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- Transactions needed to maintain or wind down the court's activities are permitted until 7 April 2027. [ 2 , 9 ]
- The ICC condemned the sanctions. [ 2 , 6 , 10 , 15 ]
- ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan condemned the sanctions and said they would not stop the court's work. [ 5 , 7 ]
- The sanctions followed the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to former ICC judge Navi Pillay by a few hours. [ 5 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- How Rubio described the court. RIA Novosti quoted him as calling it a "rogue court", while Vedomosti rendered the same passage as "illegal court".
- When the sanctions take full effect. RIA Novosti reported a 180-day period for Rome Statute states to make progress, while TASS quoted the Dutch foreign minister as speaking of a six-month delay before the sanctions enter into force.
- The status of the ICC investigation concerning US service members. Meduza described the investigation into US soldiers who fought in Afghanistan as now closed, while Kommersant reported the US had justified earlier sanctions by the court's refusal to close those cases.
- Whether companies serving the court will be affected. Only Vedomosti, citing Reuters, reported that the sanctions could potentially affect such companies.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 8 October TASS reported, citing the New York Post, that the US would impose new sanctions on the ICC. [ 1 ]
- On 9 October RIA Novosti reported that the Trump administration had imposed sanctions on the ICC. [ 2 ]
- Meduza reported, citing Reuters, that Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan condemned the sanctions. [ 5 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that the ICC strongly condemned the sanctions. [ 6 ]
- RIA Novosti reported the ICC as saying the sanctions were aimed at disrupting the court's work. [ 8 ]
- TASS reported that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi expressed concern over the sanctions. [ 11 ]
- TASS reported that Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called the sanctions an escalation. [ 12 ]
- TASS reported Rubio as saying the US was ready for a diplomatic solution despite the sanctions. [ 14 ]
- TASS reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Trump and Rubio for the decision. [ 16 ]