US slaps sanctions on ICC over sovereignty concerns

Fri Oct 09 2026 17:31:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Trump administration blocks US firms from dealing with the International Criminal Court, citing it threatens American sovereignty and could prosecute U.S. citizens.

The U.S. imposes sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), banning American entities from providing services and goods to the tribunal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the move defends U.S. sovereignty and counters the ICC’s alleged attempts to prosecute Americans. The ICC condemns the action as an assault on international law, while the U.S. maintains it has no jurisdiction over the court. The sanctions come amid the ICC’s investigation of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and for investigating Israeli officials. The U.S. also warns allies who are ICC signatories to rein in the institution.

US slaps sanctions on ICC over sovereignty concerns

By Florence Freeman – 2 minutes ago

The United States has announced a package of sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC), preventing U.S. entities from providing goods or services such as banking, software and logistics to the tribunal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures were intended “to defend U.S. sovereignty” and that the court was seeking to prosecute Americans. He added that the U.S. will either see the ICC end its threats or it will end the ICC.

The ICC has condemned the sanctions as a direct attack on the rule of law and the international legal framework. It said the blacklisting of its finances and partners would disrupt its work but that it would not be deterred. The court has investigated U.S. forces in Afghanistan and issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The sanctions were imposed after the ICC’s former judge, Navi Pillay, was named the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The award, given by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, was met with criticism from the Trump administration, which has previously sought the prize for itself. The U.S. states it has no jurisdiction over the ICC because it never ratified the Rome Statute that established the court.

Secretary Rubio said the sanctions had been delayed to allow the ICC and its member states to address U.S. concerns, and hinted at a future negotiation strategy that could open the door for other nations to join the debate. He also urged allies who are ICC signatories to "rein in" the institution.