US Imposes Sanctions on Two Additional ICC Judges

The United States has officially imposed sanctions on two more judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Thursday (December 18), fulfilling a threat made by the Donald Trump administration just a week ago.

The U.S. has long viewed the ICC as an "encroacher" on its national sovereignty. Under the Trump administration, Washington has repeatedly targeted the court’s officials and legal staff with restrictive measures. Last week, the administration issued a fresh ultimatum, warning of further sanctions if the court did not comply with specific demands.

According to a Reuters report citing a senior administration official, the U.S. demanded that the ICC drop its investigation into Israeli leaders regarding the war in Gaza and formally close old probes into the conduct of U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan. Failure to meet these demands has now led to direct punitive action.

The Sanctioned Individuals
The two judges targeted in this latest move are:

Gocha Lordkipanidze (Georgia)

Erdenebalsuren Damdin (Mongolia)

In a formal statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the move, stating, "These judges are directly involved in the ICC's efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute without Israel's consent."

The U.S. remains Israel’s primary ally, providing billions of dollars in military and economic aid despite international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Rubio's statement further alleged that the ICC is engaged in "politically motivated actions" against Israel, which he claimed "sets a dangerous precedent for the international community."

The crackdown follows the ICC's decision last November to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes.

Global Reaction and Concerns
Legal analysts warn that such sanctions could severely obstruct global investigations and intimidate prosecutors, judges, and witnesses. The International Criminal Court has condemned the move, describing the U.S. sanctions as a direct "threat to the international legal order."