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4d ago

U.S. Threatens ICC With Broader Sanctions, Demands Immunity for Trump and Case Rollbacks

Any change to the court’s jurisdiction must be approved by member states, a hurdle ICC officials stress.

An exterior view of the International Criminal Court, ICC, where Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, a leader of the Sudanese Janjaweed militia, will hear the court's verdict, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
International Criminal Court (ICC) President and Judge Tomoko Akane arrives prior to the announcement of the ICC verdict on November 20, 2024 at the ICC court in The Hague.
The International Criminal Court building is seen in The Hague, Netherlands, January 16, 2019. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
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Overview

  • A Trump administration official told Reuters the U.S. wants the ICC to pledge not to investigate the president or senior officials, to drop cases against Israeli leaders, and to formally close its Afghanistan probe.
  • The official warned that failure to meet the demands could lead to sanctions on additional ICC personnel and potentially on the court itself, representing a sharp escalation.
  • ICC representatives noted that amendments to the Rome Statute are decided by States Parties and that majorities required for jurisdictional changes are especially high.
  • Nine ICC judges and prosecutors already face U.S. sanctions, which have caused visa cancellations, bank account closures, and loss of services such as email and payments, according to the Associated Press.
  • The U.S. push follows ICC warrants for Israeli leaders in 2024 and coincides with congressional scrutiny of lethal U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats, while ICC deputies said they have received no requests regarding U.S. actions in Venezuela.