The United States has launched a campaign aimed at dismantling the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing concerns over national sovereignty and the operations of its military and law enforcement agencies.
The move follows the position of the administration of President Donald Trump, which maintains that the ICC poses a threat to the sovereignty of the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ICC and its allies are using laws, treaties and international law as weapons against the United States instead of bullets and missiles.
As part of the campaign, the U.S. State Department said it will systematically weaken the ICC’s ability to carry out its operations.
The measures include imposing additional sanctions, travel bans and visa restrictions, as well as encouraging other countries to withdraw from the international tribunal.
The campaign reflects the U.S. government’s continuing opposition to the ICC and its activities involving American interests.
Meanwhile, several international law experts argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over crimes committed within the territory of the United States because the country is not among the states that signed and ratified the Rome Statute.
The Rome Statute serves as the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court and defines the tribunal’s jurisdiction and legal framework.
The United States has long maintained its position outside the ICC, and the latest actions underscore its continued resistance to the court’s authority over matters involving American personnel and institutions.
The administration’s latest measures are expected to further intensify tensions between Washington and the international tribunal as the United States seeks broader international support for its campaign.
The ICC was established to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression under the Rome Statute, although its jurisdiction depends on conditions set by the treaty.
