The United States imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, banning U.S. entities from conducting transactions with the tribunal and vowing to dismantle it if it does not cease its actions against Americans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures, stating that the U.S. would restrict the ICC’s resources and ability to operate, including blocking its assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting U.S. companies from providing goods or services to the court. The sanctions allow the ICC 180 days to maintain certain operations while its member countries address Washington’s objections.
The ICC condemned the sanctions, calling them an assault on the rule of law and an attempt to undermine its independence. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan stated that the measures were intended to disrupt the court’s work and intimidate those who cooperate with it, but vowed that the ICC would continue its investigations and prosecutions. The announcement followed the awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former ICC judge Navi Pillay, who led a U.N. inquiry that accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes during the October 7 conflict. The U.S. and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and have long rejected its jurisdiction over their citizens.
Rubio framed the sanctions as a defense of U.S. sovereignty, arguing that the ICC lacks authority over non-member states and has overreached in its investigations, including probes into alleged U.S. actions in Afghanistan and Israeli actions in Gaza. He stated that the U.S. would not allow the ICC to prosecute Americans, declaring, “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.” The Treasury Department delayed imposing the sanctions initially to allow for negotiations with ICC member countries, but Rubio emphasized that Washington would adjust its actions if no solution was reached.
The ICC maintains that it has jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory, even when the accused are nationals of non-member states. The court has previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza, a move Israel strongly disputed. The sanctions mark the first time the U.S. has directly targeted the ICC itself, rather than individual judges or officials, and follow years of opposition to the court’s investigations into U.S. personnel. The Trump administration has described the ICC as a “fatally politicized supranational court” that has “maliciously abused its authority.”