Trump administration plans sweeping sanctions on ICC

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to impose sweeping economic sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which could sever the Hague-based tribunal from much of the global financial system. According to U.S. officials and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, these sanctions would prohibit most transactions with the ICC after a six- to seven-month grace period, potentially preventing the court from conducting transactions in U.S. dollars. This move represents a significant escalation in the administration's campaign against the ICC, following the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

• The proposed measures would target the ICC as an institution, rather than individual officials, going beyond previous sanctions on figures like former chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the administration is preparing a broader campaign against the court, arguing its assertion of jurisdiction over officials from non-member countries creates a “dangerous precedent” and threatens U.S. sovereignty.
• The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
• European countries and other major supporters of the court, including Japan, have pledged to protect the institution from U.S. pressure, though their specific measures remain unclear.