Overview
- An administration official told Reuters the White House wants the ICC to amend the Rome Statute to prevent investigations of the president and senior U.S. officials.
- Washington also asked the court to drop cases involving senior Israeli leaders over the Gaza war and to formally close its Afghanistan probe.
- The official said the U.S. has conveyed these demands to ICC member states and to the court, warning of additional sanctions on more personnel and possibly on the institution itself.
- The ICC noted that amendments are the prerogative of States Parties, while Reuters reported most changes require approval by two‑thirds of members and the United States is not a party.
- Earlier this year the U.S. sanctioned nine ICC judges and prosecutors, and Reuters reported that targeting the court itself could disrupt basic operations such as payroll, banking access and software.