Washington, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The United States has enacted institutional sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), escalating tensions with the global judicial body. Announced on October 9, this decision allows for certain operations to continue for the next 180 days, aiming to maintain a possibility for diplomatic resolution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington will not recognize the court’s jurisdiction over American citizens, military personnel, or political leaders. He emphasized, “President Trump will never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans. Therefore, the United States is imposing sanctions on the ICC. We will restrict transactions with this rogue court, cut off its resources, and cripple its operational capacity.”
These sanctions are authorized under Executive Order 14203, which permits penalties against individuals involved in investigations or actions that the U.S. opposes. The State Department noted that prior sanctions had already been placed on 17 individuals under this order, and the latest action extends these restrictions to the institution itself.
Under the new directive, ICC property and interests within U.S. jurisdiction have been blocked. However, the Treasury Department has issued several general licenses, allowing certain specified activities to continue. This includes a 180-day authorization for essential operations, information technology services, pension arrangements, and activities related to ICC detainees.
The State Department explained that this temporary operational authority aims to give countries party to the court’s founding treaty time to address U.S. concerns. Rubio remarked that Washington had delayed imposing sanctions to seek changes through diplomatic efforts. He warned, “Neither the ICC nor its member states have taken meaningful steps to address our concerns.”
The ICC has dismissed the sanctions as an unprecedented attack on an independent judicial institution, warning that such actions jeopardize international efforts to prosecute war crimes and other serious offenses. ICC President Tomoko Akane affirmed that the court will continue its work despite the sanctions, emphasizing a commitment to operate freely and fairly based solely on law and evidence.
The ICC, established under the Rome Statute, prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression when national authorities are unwilling or unable to act. The United States has never been a member of the ICC, which comprises 125 member states dedicated to upholding international justice.
The ICC has called on its member countries to ensure that it retains the necessary financial and operational resources to continue its activities.
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