Broad international coalition rejects US sanctions against ICC

Foreign ministries of eight countries, including Germany, France, Britain, and Japan, expressed in a joint statement their condemnation of the sanctions imposed by the United States on Friday against the International Criminal Court. The signatory nations included Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Britain. The statement, published by the British Foreign Office, stated that they affirm their firm and steadfast support for the independence, neutrality, and immunity of the International Criminal Court. As staunch supporters of the court, they deeply regret the imposition of US sanctions and strongly oppose this decision. The eight nations considered that the sanctions would have a profound impact on the work of the court and its personnel, expressing their determination to continue working together to support its activities. The administration of US President Donald Trump had previously imposed sanctions on the court on Friday, prohibiting any financial transactions with it and aiming to cripple its operations. The court described the decision as an unprecedented step aimed at disrupting its work and intimidating its staff. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions in a video clip, targeting the court this time as an entity rather than its officials or supporting parties. Rubio vowed to dismantle the court stone by stone unless it ends what Washington considers a threat to its citizens. Rubio stated that President Trump will never allow the court to try Americans, hinting that the sanctions are a response to the court's investigations regarding US military personnel in Afghanistan and arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials. The US State Department explained that exemptions accompanying the sanctions are intended to provide member states with time to make tangible progress toward diplomatic and legal solutions to US concerns. Observers believe that targeting the court as a whole, which includes about 900 employees, makes it difficult for it to protect itself from the effects of the sanctions. In response, the court called on member states to double their support. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the new sanctions imposed on the court as an institution. For his part, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated at a press conference on Friday that the US sanctions will reflect on US relations with Europe and other state parties to the Rome Statute establishing the court. The number of member states in the court is 125, and the US government does not recognize the court's jurisdiction to try citizens of countries that have not joined it.