EU condemns sweeping US sanctions on International Criminal Court
publishers 52articles 60first reported 8 Oct, 17:26 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 10 editions
The European Union has condemned sweeping US sanctions against the International Criminal Court and said it is prepared to take measures to help the Hague-based tribunal continue operating.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Friday, saying Washington would prohibit transactions with the ICC and cut it off from US financial services, technology companies and the US dollar. American companies and individuals were given six months to wind down business with the court.
The Trump administration accuses the ICC of exceeding its authority by investigating citizens of countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute, including Americans and Israelis. The court has investigated alleged abuses by US personnel in Afghanistan and issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC called the sanctions an attempt to obstruct justice and said it would continue its work independently. ICC President Tomoko Akane appealed to member states for support.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said attacks or threats against the court, its personnel and those cooperating with it were unacceptable. The European Commission described the measures as “deeply regrettable” and said the six-month transition could allow time for dialogue. European officials are considering use of the bloc’s blocking statute, which could prevent European companies from complying with the US sanctions.
The announcement came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The sanctions decision had been made before the award was announced.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 52
- Source articles
- 60
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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