World · North America · 1 day ago
US sanctions International Criminal Court after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize
The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, or ICC, the court in The Hague that prosecutes war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
The decision came hours after South African jurist Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
The United States is not a member of the court, and the Trump administration says it will not allow the ICC to prosecute Americans.
Washington has objected to the court’s past investigation of US troops in Afghanistan and its arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The sanctions target the institution itself and restrict its access to US banking, technology and other services; a six-month period allows time for some business with the court to wind down.
The ICC says the measures aim to disrupt its work and intimidate those who support it, but says it will continue its work.
The UK, Canada, Japan and several European countries criticised the sanctions and said they support the court, while the US has called on allies to address its concerns.
The United States announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court on Friday, October 9, targeting the institution rather than only individual judges and officials.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures would block transactions and US companies’ provision of services such as banking and software to the court.
The ICC said the sanctions were intended to disrupt its operations and intimidate people who work with it, but said it would not be deterred.
The United States has allowed a six-month period before some sanctions take effect, giving time for dialogue and negotiations, according to the reports.
The UK, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands criticised the move and reaffirmed their support for the court.
The sanctions were announced hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay received the Nobel Peace Prize; the articles do not establish that the award prompted the US decision.
- Who
- The US government, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the International Criminal Court
- What
- The United States announced sanctions against the ICC as an institution.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026
- Where
- The ICC is based in The Hague, Netherlands; the US announced the sanctions.
- Why
- The Trump administration says it wants to prevent the ICC from prosecuting Americans and address US concerns about the court.
United States
International Criminal Court and its supporters
Purpose and legitimacy
United States
The Trump administration says the ICC threatens US sovereignty and that it will not allow the court to prosecute Americans.
International Criminal Court and its supporters
The ICC says the sanctions obstruct justice and attack the rule of law; supporters say the court is important to international criminal justice.
Effect of the sanctions
United States
Washington says the measures are intended to cut off the court’s resources and says it delayed them to give the ICC and member states time to address US concerns.
International Criminal Court and its supporters
The ICC says the sanctions aim to disrupt its operations and intimidate its staff and those who cooperate with it. Several allied governments warned they could significantly affect the court’s work.
Response and next steps
United States
Rubio called on allied ICC members to rein in the court and said the measures leave room for negotiations.
International Criminal Court and its supporters
The ICC says it will not be deterred and has urged member states to help it continue its work; several governments have reaffirmed their support and called for dialogue.
Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.
The court, for its part, will not be deterred.
Today's decision marks a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a key pillar.
The ICC is not a court. It is a political body that poses a mortal threat to law abiding democracies worldwide and to the very idea of national sovereignty.
The International Criminal Court was established.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to former ICC judge Navi Pillay.
The United States announced sanctions against the ICC, hours after Pillay received the Nobel Prize.
A grace period allows time for dialogue before some of the sanctions take effect.
- ICC member states
- 125
- ICC founding year
- 2002
- Grace period
- Six months before some sanctions take effect
- Nobel recipient
- Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a former ICC judge
- Countries in joint statement opposing the sanctions
- The UK, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands
Sources
Trump wants to dismantle the ICC. These jurists want Canada to intervene
Trump Sanksi ICC Usai Eks Hakimnya Raih Nobel, Eropa Terancam Panas
US hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions as part of drive to dismantle tribunal
‘Piece by piece’: Trump administration vows to dismantle the International Criminal Court with sweeping new sanctions
US sanctions the International Criminal Court hours after a former judge wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Trump administration announces sweeping sanctions on ICC as Marco Rubio dubs it a 'rogue court'
Estados Unidos sanciona a la Corte Penal Internacional horas después del Nobel de la Paz a una exjueza
US sanctions 'rogue' ICC hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize
U.S hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions
US unveils sanctions on ICC in move court condems as 'assault on rule of law'
Trump Administration Hits International Criminal Court With Severe Sanctions
US-Sanktionen: USA verhängen weitreichende Sanktionen gegen den Internationalen Strafgerichtshof
Reactions to US imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court
US imposes new sanctions on international criminal court
US imposes sanctions on ICC, hours after Nobel award to former judge
Rubio spricht von "Schurkengericht": USA verhängen Sanktionen gegen Internationalen Strafgerichtshof
ICC rejects U.S. sanctions, says 'history will judge this moment'
International Criminal Court faces 'test of resilience' as US imposes sweeping sanctions
US sanctions International Criminal Court itself in major escalation
US imposes sanctions on ICC, hours after former judge Pillay wins Nobel peace prize – as it happened
ICC condemns sweeping US sanctions as assault on international law
US imposes sanctions aiming to 'dismantle' International Criminal Court
US slaps sanctions on ICC, hours after ex-judge wins Nobel
US sanctions International Criminal Court hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel per la Pace, la reazione degli Usa: “Sanzioni contro la Corte penale internazionale”. Italia e altri 7 paesi: “Incrollabile sostegno ai giudici”
U.S. imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, hours after former judge wins Nobel
US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court, hours after former judge wins Nobel
Trump administration hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions
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