US Sanctions ICC Hours After Former Judge Wins Nobel Peace Prize, Straining Ties With Europe

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), hours after a former judge of the court won the Nobel Peace Prize. The move risks deepening diplomatic tensions between Washington and its European allies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump will never allow the court to prosecute Americans. He said the US would bar dealings with what he called a “rogue” court, cut off its resources and cripple its ability to operate. Unlike earlier sanctions on prosecutors and judges, the new measures could also penalize companies that provide services to the court. The Treasury Department set a six-month grace period and exempted telecommunications, software, pension payments and transactions involving detainees. Rubio said the measures could be adjusted if US demands are not met.
The ICC condemned the step as an attack on the rule of law and urged its 125 member states to act, saying the court “cannot stand alone.” Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told Reuters its work on all situations, investigations and cases would continue. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the six months offer room for dialogue, adding that the EU has alternative measures to keep the court’s key work going. Belgium’s foreign minister called on EU states to adopt a blocking statute to counter the sanctions’ effects.
Washington has criticized the court over arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its Afghanistan probe into US troops’ conduct. The court says the Afghanistan case is no longer a priority. The ICC has issued warrants for more than 70 people, including Vladimir Putin and Omar al-Bashir.