Efforts to isolate ICC aim to erode global legal order, governing body leaders warn

The current and former presidents of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) governing body, the Assembly of States Parties, have warned that efforts to diplomatically isolate the ICC are intended to erode confidence in the international legal order. In a joint op-ed published on Thursday, they stated, "Efforts to isolate the Court diplomatically... are aimed at eroding not only one institution, but confidence in the international legal order itself." This comes as the Trump administration has sanctioned ICC judges and officials, including its president, and is pressuring member countries to withdraw. The ICC, established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity when member states are unable or unwilling to act, has drawn Washington's ire due to its investigation into US troops in Afghanistan and an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Trump administration has affirmed its campaign to "disable the ICC's ability to operate, target American servicemen or officials, or otherwise threaten American sovereignty."