US Sanctions the President of the International Criminal Court

The United States has imposed sanctions on the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and several other officials of the organization. The move was announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused the court of attempting to investigate, detain and prosecute officials whose governments do not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.

Rubio described the ICC as a "corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its power and exceeded its mandate."

The Court's Response

The ICC said the new sanctions would not intimidate its staff and that the court remains firmly committed to supporting its personnel. According to the organization, actions taken by states against judges, prosecutors and other officials carrying out the court's mandate undermine the rule of law. The White House and President Donald Trump personally have not yet commented on the new sanctions.

Sanctions as a Response to the Case Against Netanyahu

Trump first ordered sanctions against the ICC back in February of last year through a presidential executive order. Many of the measures were a direct response to the tribunal's investigation into Israel — a longtime US ally — which in 2024 led to an arrest warrant being issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Like the United States, Israel, China and Russia do not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.

The Trump administration had already sanctioned several ICC judges and prosecutors in the past. Such measures include freezing the assets of the individuals targeted in the US and barring them and their family members from entering the country.

What Is the International Criminal Court

Washington does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC — the only permanent international court empowered to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and war crimes. The court is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and was established by the international community in 2002.

The ICC exercises its jurisdiction only when a member state is unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators itself. The United States has never been a member of the court. At the same time, the ICC's founding statute grants it the authority to prosecute crimes against humanity committed on the territory of member states by nationals of countries that have not joined the statute.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz