Washington targets the court

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court on Friday, hours after the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navanethem Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist who has served as a judge at the court. The prize was awarded by the Nobel committee in Oslo. US foreign minister Marco Rubio announced the measures, which follow a long dispute in which the US has already sanctioned prosecutors and judges at the court. Washington has repeatedly criticised the institution, especially after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on charges of crimes against humanity in Gaza.

What the measures would do

Rubio framed the measures as a response to the court's pursuit of Americans, and said:

“President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans.”

Rubio added that the US would ban transactions with the institution, cutting off its resources and paralysing its operations. The measures go further than earlier steps because they could reach companies that provide services to the court, not only judges and prosecutors. US sanctions usually bar American companies from working with targeted parties, which could disrupt banking, insurance and technology support. The sanctions could also affect any country, organisation or business that cooperates with or trades with the court.

Court and prosecutor respond

Deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said the sanctions 'must be condemned' and that the court's work would carry on in all its investigations and prosecutions. She said:

“The sanctions aim to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work of an independent judicial institution.”

In its own statement, the court called the measures an attack on the rule of law. It said it would continue to fulfil its mandate, which covers prosecuting individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to act. The court warned that it cannot do this alone and called on its members, which do not include the United States, to ensure it has the means to operate. The statement ended with:

“History will judge this moment.”

Six-month window and EU response

The European Commission said the EU stands ready to take every necessary measure so the court can keep working, and it described the US decision in a statement:

“It is deeply regrettable that the United States has announced its intention to impose sanctions.”

The Commission also said there is still room for dialogue, because the sanctions take effect only after a six-month delay. The sequence of announcement and effective date is shown below.

Dutch foreign minister Tom Berendsen said the interval creates room for talks with Washington:

“The six-month period until the sanctions take effect creates room for dialogue.”

He added that the Netherlands would carry out a serious assessment of the available options together with the other members of the court.

Reactions in Europe and Israel

The European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland all condemned the US sanctions. The court has 125 states parties, including all EU member states and nearly all NATO members, with the United States and Turkey as the exceptions. Its seat is in The Hague. The United States and Israel are not members and do not recognise the court as an institution. The court was founded in 2002 with jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The award to Pillay angered Israel's leadership, and Tel Aviv has expressed satisfaction with the sanctions.