Trump administration announces sweeping sanctions on ICC as Marco Rubio dubs it a 'rogue court'

Published: 15:47 EDT, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 16:13 EDT, 9 October 2026 The Trump administration has announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal.It comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labelled the ICC a 'rogue court' and demanded that America's allies 'rein in' the court, threatening that otherwise the US would 'continue its campaign' to 'end the ICC'. However, the UK joined Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands to reaffirm its 'continued and unwavering support' in a joint statement in which they said they 'regret and strongly disagree with' the sanctions. The US administration has been fiercely critical of the ICC over its investigation into the actions of US troops in Afghanistan and rejected its issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Neither the US nor Israel are signed up to the ICC – established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide – and reject its jurisdiction over their citizens.The US announcement of sanctions coincided with one of the court's former judges, Navi Pillay, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Mr Rubio said the sanctions would 'ban transactions' with the ICC, 'cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate'.'The United States and the American people are not subject to the jurisdiction of this fake ICC,' Mr Rubio said in a video address posted to social media. The Trump administration has announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pictured) labelled the ICC a 'rogue court' as he announced a series of sanctions against itCalling on US allies to back its plans, Mr Rubio said: 'If they do not, the United States will continue its campaign to dismantle the ICC, piece by piece, until Americans are threatened no longer.'The ICC itself said the sanctions were 'an attempt to obstruct the course of justice' and 'an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order'. The sanctions cut the ICC off from US-based financial services, technology companies, and even the use of US dollars. They set a six-month timeline for US companies and individuals that have business with the court to wind that business down. The remaining G7 nations - as well as Denmark and the Netherlands - said that while the ICC had taken steps to ensure it could continue to operate, the sanctions would 'have a significant impact on the court's work'.Warning the court 'cannot stand alone', the ICC said: 'Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it.'Their statement went on: 'The court calls upon states to continue taking concrete actions, including to ensure that the court continues to have the necessary means to continue its work.'This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law.'No one should be punished for serving the cause of justice. History will judge this moment. Future generations, and above all the victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them came under attack.'ICC President Tomoko Akane said the court would 'continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes.'She also appealed to other ICC members for support, saying: 'This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law.' The International Federation for Human Rights also criticised the sanctions, with its president Alexis Deswaef saying the ICC's 125 member states 'cannot establish a court to hold the powerful accountable and then stand by while it is being dismantled'.'They must act collectively to protect the court, civil society, and the victims and survivors who depend on them,' he added.