The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned sanctions imposed by the United States, describing the move as an attempt to disrupt its operations and intimidate those working with the institution.
The sanctions were announced on Friday, October 9, 2026, by the administration of US President Donald Trump, hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump would not allow the court to prosecute American citizens, escalating Washington’s longstanding opposition to the ICC’s activities.
“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC. We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American servicemembers for their defence, to rein in the court,” Rubio said.
Reacting to the sanctions in a video statement, ICC President Tomoko Akane said the measures were designed to disrupt the court’s operations and intimidate its staff and those who cooperate with it.
“The court, for its part, will not be deterred,” Akane said.
She reaffirmed the court’s commitment to carrying out its mandate independently and impartially, guided by the law and evidence and in the interests of victims of serious crimes.
“The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” she said.
Akane urged the court’s 125 member states to take concrete action to ensure it had the resources required to continue its work.
“This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law,” she said.
The ICC president warned that the sanctions raised wider concerns about international justice and the protection of those working to uphold the rule of law.
“No one should be punished for serving the cause of justice. History will judge this moment. Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack,” Akane added.
The latest measures mark an escalation in Washington’s campaign against the court, which investigates and prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression within its jurisdiction.
The United States has repeatedly criticised the ICC over its investigations and legal actions involving American personnel and officials of allied countries, particularly Israel.
The sanctions target the court as an institution and could affect its access to US-based financial services, technology providers and transactions involving the US dollar. American companies and individuals subject to the measures have been given a period to wind down their dealings with the court.
Rubio said the sanctions had been structured to allow room for negotiations and to “present a solution to address our concerns”.
The ICC has maintained that it will continue its work with the support of its member states, despite the pressure from Washington.
