Trump preparing sweeping sanctions against ICC after Netanyahu arrest warrant

The Trump administration is preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court after its arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposed move could disrupt the court's finances and deepen Washington's campaign to isolate it.

In Short

• Sanction could block ICC transactions after 6-month grace period
• Dollar restrictions may limit court's access to global financial networks
• Marco Rubio urged countries to quit ICC and warned of more action

The Trump administration is preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), escalating Washington's campaign against the tribunal after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The sanctions, which could be announced as soon as this week, would target the ICC as an institution rather than individual judges and prosecutors. The Trump administration wants the court to drop its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, as well as a previous investigation into alleged crimes by US troops in Afghanistan, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Under measures reported by The Wall Street Journal, most transactions involving the ICC could be prohibited after a six- to seven-month grace period. The restrictions could also prevent the court from conducting transactions in US dollars, potentially limiting its access to much of the international financial system.

The US has already imposed sanctions on several ICC judges, prosecutors and other officials. But Washington has so far stopped short of sanctioning the court itself.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for US ally Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Israel's war in Gaza. Netanyahu and Gallant have rejected the allegations, while Israel and the US, neither of which is a member of the ICC, reject the court's jurisdiction.

The Trump administration's latest move comes as US officials seek to pressure the ICC to drop arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and end a previous investigation into alleged crimes by US forces in Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July launched a campaign aimed at isolating the court, urging countries to withdraw from the ICC and warning that Washington was considering further measures against the institution and organisations associated with it.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SANCTIONS COULD DISRUPT ICC OPERATIONS

A broad sanctions regime against the ICC could affect routine operations that depend on access to international financial and commercial services.

The court relies on services including information technology, insurance and banking, as well as investigators and other contractors. Restrictions on US companies and financial institutions dealing with the ICC could therefore complicate its day-to-day operations.

Banks and other businesses often take a cautious approach to US sanctions because of their reliance on access to the American financial system.

The ICC has warned that efforts to isolate it could affect its ability to carry out its judicial and investigative work. Its governing body has said diplomatic pressure aimed at weakening the court threatens confidence in the broader international legal order.

TRUMP'S LONG-STANDING OPPOSITION TO ICC

Trump's opposition to the ICC dates back to his first term in office. His administration has repeatedly accused the court of exceeding its authority and targeting US and Israeli officials.

The ICC is also investigating alleged crimes connected to US military actions in Afghanistan, another case that Washington has objected to.

The US is not a member of the ICC and has never ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national authorities are unable or unwilling to genuinely investigate and prosecute such crimes.

US CAMPAIGN TO ISOLATE COURT

The latest sanctions plan follows a broader administration effort to pressure other countries to distance themselves from the ICC.

In July, a State Department official told Reuters that Washington was considering a range of measures, including travel bans, visa revocations, additional sanctions and diplomatic pressure on countries to withdraw from the court. The administration said at the time that no diplomatic option would be off the table in its campaign against the ICC.

The latest measures would go beyond sanctions against individual ICC officials by targeting the institution itself.

The timing of the announcement remains unclear, although the Wall Street Journal reported that a decision could be finalised as soon as this week, when world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly this week.

If implemented, the sanctions would represent one of the most significant steps yet by Washington to financially and diplomatically isolate the ICC.

- Ends
(with inputs from Reuters)