US adds ICC to sanctions list; UN rights chief urges member states to defend court

The US Treasury added the International Criminal Court to its sanctions list on Friday, Interfax reported, citing a notification from the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. TASS also reported the listing. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called the restrictions unacceptable and urged the court's member countries to defend it. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the court's actions, including criminal proceedings against American military personnel, border guards and elected leaders, violated US sovereignty. He said the United States and its people were not subject to the court's jurisdiction. Rubio promised to prohibit dealings with the court, cut off its resources and restrict its ability to act against the United States. [ 1 ]

Rubio urged other ICC member countries to follow the US example, noting that some US allies belonging to the court relied on American military help for their defense. RBC reported that he threatened to end the ICC's activities if it did not stop what he described as threats against the United States, and called on allies to rein it in. [ 1 , 3 ]

Interfax, citing The Hill, reported a 180-day license allowing continued dealings with the court while companies and individuals end their work with it. The report said the measures were also to prohibit the American private sector from supplying banking, technical, commercial and professional services to the ICC. [ 1 ]

Türk called for states to prevent the restrictions from deterring people who work for the court or cooperate with it in administering justice, TASS reported. The agency said he urged the ICC's member states to protect the institution from the US sanctions. [ 4 ]