US sanctions ICC, threatening court’s banking and software access
Why it matters: The measures target the court itself and give member states six months to seek a deal before some penalties bite.
The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court, expanding earlier penalties on individual judges and officials to the Hague-based institution itself. The measures bar US entities from doing business with the ICC, including providing banking and software services that could disrupt the court’s operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move was meant to block any prosecution of Americans and pressure US allies that belong to the court. The ICC called the sanctions an assault on the rule of law, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned they would damage international criminal justice. Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands reaffirmed support for the court.