Washington considers new measures to isolate the International Criminal Court and limit its operations

The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering a broad range of measures aimed at diplomatically isolating the International Criminal Court (ICC) and limiting its ability to investigate or prosecute US and Israeli officials, according to US officials cited by Reuters.

According to the report, the administration is weighing additional sanctions, travel restrictions, visa revocations, and diplomatic efforts to encourage countries to withdraw from the court or suspend financial support.

A US State Department official told Reuters that the administration views the ICC as posing a threat to US sovereignty and is examining multiple options to counter its activities.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ICC and its supporters are waging “a legal war” against the United States through international law and judicial mechanisms rather than military means.

Rubio argued that allowing the court to exercise jurisdiction over US military personnel or government officials would undermine American sovereignty.

“The danger posed by this international court continues to grow,” Rubio said. “If we remain passive, we will all be at the mercy of foreign judges thousands of miles away.”

According to the State Department, the objective of the proposed measures is to “systematically cripple” the ICC’s ability to operate and prevent it from taking action against US military personnel, government officials, or others whom Washington believes fall outside the court’s jurisdiction.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the measures under consideration include expanding sanctions against the court and affiliated entities, imposing entry bans, revoking visas, and increasing diplomatic pressure on ICC member states.

The official added that senior US diplomats, including Rubio, are encouraging governments to reject what Washington considers the court’s jurisdiction over American citizens and to reconsider their political and financial support for the institution.

According to the official, countries hosting US military forces, cooperating closely with US law enforcement, or relying on American security assistance are expected to oppose ICC jurisdiction over US personnel. Countries that continue supporting the court despite significant US assistance could face increased scrutiny.

The United States has long opposed ICC jurisdiction over its nationals. Although the ICC authorized an investigation into alleged crimes committed in Afghanistan in 2020, its prosecutor later narrowed the investigation’s focus to alleged crimes committed primarily by the Taliban and the former Afghan government.

Tensions between Washington and the ICC have intensified in recent years, particularly following the court’s investigations related to the war in Gaza and its issuance of arrest warrants involving senior Israeli officials. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on several ICC judges in response to those proceedings.

Last month, three ICC judges filed a legal challenge against the US administration, arguing that sanctions imposed on them were unlawful.

Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression when national authorities are unable or unwilling to conduct genuine investigations or prosecutions.

The United States, Israel, and Russia are not parties to the Rome Statute and do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over their nationals except under specific circumstances recognized by international law.