The United States has imposed sanctions on the president of the International Criminal Court and a senior prosecutor, intensifying the Trump administration’s campaign against the institution.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Tuesday, accusing ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of taking part in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute officials from countries that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
Rubio described the ICC as a “corrupt and fatally politicised supranational court” and accused it of exceeding its authority.
He said the court had repeatedly sought to exercise jurisdiction over US citizens and nationals of other countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
The United States has repeatedly criticised the court over its investigations and proceedings involving Israel. Washington has accused the ICC of political bias and of unfairly targeting Israel.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024 in connection with alleged crimes related to the war in Gaza. Israel and the United States have rejected the court’s jurisdiction and allegations against Israeli officials.
The ICC responded to the latest US sanctions by warning that such measures could weaken international legal protections.
The court said sanctions against judicial officials for applying the law put the broader international legal system at risk and argued that judges and prosecutors must be able to carry out their duties without political pressure.
The sanctions are part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to restrict the ICC’s activities. In July, the US State Department announced plans for a campaign aimed at dismantling the institution and reducing its ability to operate.
Possible measures include additional financial sanctions, visa restrictions and travel bans targeting ICC personnel.
Washington has already sanctioned several members of the court, including judges involved in proceedings that the US considers objectionable.
The ICC was established to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national legal systems are unwilling or unable to act. The United States has not joined the Rome Statute and does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction over US nationals without a specific basis for doing so.
Supporters of the ICC argue that the institution provides an important mechanism for holding powerful individuals accountable for serious international crimes. Critics, including the Trump administration, argue that its prosecutors and judges have expanded their authority beyond what member states agreed to.
The latest sanctions deepen the confrontation between Washington and the court and could affect the ICC’s ability to conduct investigations involving countries and officials that lack support from the United States.
The dispute also highlights a broader debate over the limits of international courts and the extent to which judicial institutions can operate independently when their decisions conflict with the interests of major powers.
