U.S. imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) hours after South African judge Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize. The sanctions target the ICC as an institution, aiming to hinder its financial operations. The U.S. claims the ICC threatens American sovereignty, citing past investigations into U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
The sanctions, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, include a ban on U.S. entities transacting with the ICC. The move follows a six-month grace period allowing member states to continue funding the court. The U.S. administration has previously targeted ICC officials, but this move is broader, potentially affecting companies providing services to the court.
The ICC has condemned the sanctions, calling them an assault on the rule of law. The court's deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, stated the measures would not stop its work. The U.S. claims the ICC is run by globalists seeking to undermine American sovereignty, a stance shared by some European allies who have criticized the sanctions.
The ICC, based in the Netherlands, has 125 member states, including all EU countries except the U.S. and Turkey. The U.S. has provided exemptions allowing some transactions with the ICC, including telecommunications and pension payments, to give member states time to address U.S. concerns.