The Trump administration has prepared sweeping sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court as an institution and plans to announce them soon, according to sources familiar with the matter, marking a major escalation in Washington’s campaign against the Hague-based tribunal.
Two sources told Reuters that measures against the entire ICC had been drawn up, although the precise timing of their announcement remained unclear. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that the decision could be finalised as early as this week as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The Journal, citing officials and documents it reviewed, said the measures would prohibit most transactions with the court following a six- to seven-month wind-down period.
Unlike previous US sanctions aimed at individual ICC judges and prosecutors, the latest measures would target the court itself. Such sanctions could prevent American citizens and companies from supplying funds, goods or services to the ICC without authorisation from the US Treasury Department.
ICC officials have warned that institution-wide sanctions could severely disrupt the court’s operations, including its access to information technology and insurance services, the hiring of investigators and routine financial transactions, including salaries for US employees.
Washington has stepped up pressure on the ICC over its investigations involving Americans and its arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
The court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the Gaza conflict. Israel rejects the allegations and disputes the court’s jurisdiction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a broader diplomatic campaign in July aimed at isolating the ICC, urging other governments to reject what Washington considers the court’s authority over nationals of countries that are not members. The administration has also considered visa restrictions, travel bans and additional sanctions against organisations associated with the court.
The United States has never joined the ICC. Washington argues that the court should not exercise jurisdiction over US personnel without American consent. The ICC maintains that it can prosecute crimes committed on the territory of states that have accepted its jurisdiction, including when the alleged perpetrators come from non-member countries.
The court, established in 2002, investigates and prosecutes genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national authorities are unable or unwilling genuinely to pursue such cases.
If implemented, the new measures would represent the first time Washington has sanctioned the ICC as an entire institution rather than focusing primarily on individual officials.
