US sanctions on ICC spark backlash from European allies, Canada, Japan and UN

WASHINGTON — The United States faced widespread international criticism Friday after announcing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), with key Western allies, the European Union and the United Nations warning that the measures threatened the independence of international justice.Six European countries, Canada and Japan jointly rejected the sanctions, while the European Commission, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the ICC itself condemned Washington’s decision.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures Friday, warning that Washington would intensify its campaign against the court unless it ended “threats against American nationals.””Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” Rubio said, urging US allies that are members of the court to intervene.The confrontation comes amid longstanding US opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction over American nationals and the court’s November 2024 arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC, which has 125 states parties.US allies reject sanctionsIn a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, alongside their counterparts from Canada and Japan, expressed strong opposition to the sanctions.”We, the undersigned States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC,” they said.The eight countries warned that the measures could seriously disrupt the court’s operations and affect its staff and their families.They pledged to cooperate in protecting the institution and maintaining international accountability for serious crimes.Switzerland separately opposed measures aimed at “undermining the independence of the Court and its ability to fulfill its mandate.”Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten also pledged to defend the Hague-based institution.”I think now the message to the United States is crystal clear: We will do whatever we need to defend the ICC,” he said.Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned Washington’s decision and called for the activation of the EU Blocking Statute to protect the court and organizations supporting its work.”The Court’s independence cannot depend on whom it investigates,” Prevot said.EU considers measures to protect ICCThe European Commission described the US announcement as “deeply regrettable” and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the ICC’s independence and operations.”The EU stands ready to take any necessary measures to enable the Court to carry out its work both in investigating and prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and to protect the interests of EU operators within the Single Market,” the commission said.The bloc pledged to coordinate with the ICC’s 125 member states to safeguard the institution.It also said the six-month period before the sanctions take effect provided an opportunity for diplomatic engagement with Washington.European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU would adopt “adequate measures” to protect the court, its members and staff.UN warns of blow to international justiceUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the sanctions, warning that they could undermine international efforts to hold perpetrators of serious crimes accountable.”Today’s decision marks a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar,” Guterres said in a statement issued through his spokesperson.He expressed concern about the potential impact on the court’s ability to fulfill its mandate and urged countries to uphold their obligations under international law.ICC vows to continue despite sanctionsThe ICC rejected the US measures, describing them as an attack on the rule of law and an attempt to obstruct international justice.The court said the sanctions were intended to disrupt its operations and intimidate individuals working for or cooperating with the institution.”The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” ICC President Tomoko Akane said.Akane, who was personally sanctioned by Washington in August, is among several ICC judges and prosecutors previously targeted by US measures.The court urged its 125 member states to take concrete steps to protect its operations, warning that the dispute had implications beyond the institution itself.”This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law,” it said.Israel welcomes US decisionIsrael publicly welcomed the sanctions, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praising President Donald Trump and Rubio for taking action against the court.”The ICC is not a court. It is a political body that poses a mortal threat to law-abiding democracies worldwide and to the very idea of national sovereignty,” Netanyahu wrote on X.Israel has consistently rejected the ICC’s allegations against its leaders and challenged the court’s jurisdiction over its actions in Gaza.