The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected sanctions imposed by the United States, describing them as an attempt to disrupt its operations and intimidate those working with the institution.
The US imposed the sanctions on Friday, hours after one of the court’s former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans.
“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC. We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American servicemembers for their defence, to rein in the court,” Rubio said.
Reacting to the sanctions in a video statement, ICC President Tomoko Akane said they were intended to disrupt the court’s operations and intimidate its staff and those who cooperate with it.
“The court, for its part, will not be deterred,” Akane said.
She said the court would continue to discharge its mandate independently and impartially, guided by the law and evidence, and in the interest of victims of serious crimes.
“The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes,” she said.
Akane urged the ICC’s 125 member states to take “concrete actions” to ensure that the court had the resources needed to carry out its responsibilities.
“This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law,” she said.
She warned that the sanctions raised broader concerns about the protection of international justice and those working to uphold it.
“No one should be punished for serving the cause of justice. History will judge this moment. Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack,” Akane said.
US sanctions typically restrict American companies from doing business with designated individuals or institutions. They can also put pressure on financial institutions, insurers and software companies to end their dealings with those targeted.
Rubio said the sanctions announced on Friday were structured to allow room for negotiations and to “present a solution to address our concerns”.
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