Trump Administration Preparing Sanctions Against International Criminal Court, Sources Say

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to two people familiar with the matter, in a move that would significantly escalate Washington's campaign against the Hague-based tribunal.

An announcement could come in the coming days, the sources said, marking a major expansion of U.S. pressure on the court, which prosecutes cases involving war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

Reuters reported on Monday that the Trump administration has maintained a hostile stance toward the ICC since taking office, seeking to weaken the court's operations. Washington has called for the withdrawal of arrest warrants issued against Israeli leaders and has also sought to halt previous ICC investigations involving U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

In July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign aimed at isolating the ICC and urged other countries to withdraw from the court. The United States has already imposed sanctions on several ICC judges and prosecutors, but it has not previously targeted the institution itself.

While preparations for broader sanctions are underway, the timing of any formal announcement remains unclear. The Wall Street Journal reported that a final decision could be made this week during the United Nations General Assembly session.

Direct sanctions against the ICC and organizations that work with it could severely disrupt the court's operations.

If the court is designated under U.S. Treasury sanctions, American citizens and companies would be prohibited from providing funds, goods, or services to the ICC without special authorization.

The court's Registrar and President have warned that such measures could interfere with access to information technology services, insurance, the recruitment of investigators, and routine financial transactions. They have also cautioned that paying the salaries of dozens of U.S.-based staff members could become difficult.

The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The court exercises jurisdiction when national authorities are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute such crimes themselves.

The United States has never been a member of the ICC.