Venezuela and Chad Initiate Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Venezuela and Chad have formally begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), notifying the UN Secretary-General of their intentions. Their departures will officially take effect in the summer of 2027, as confirmed by the UN depository. Caracas cited claims of the ICC's "geographic bias" and disproportionate focus on African and Latin American nations as reasons for its decision, asserting that the court operates selectively and with political motivations. Chad echoed these sentiments, pointing to a broader crisis in the international order and highlighting the "undeniable selectivity" of the court's actions, stating that its current practices diverge significantly from its founding objectives.

These withdrawals follow similar announcements in June by Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, bringing the total number of states initiating departure to five. The Associated Press links this trend to pressure from the United States, which has openly sought to reduce the ICC's membership and imposed sanctions on its personnel. The report highlights an instance where Chad's Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, stated that U.S. officials expressed concern over the ICC's work and directly requested Chad reconsider its participation just three days before the announcement.

In August, the U.S. imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and a senior prosecutor, accusing the court of politicization and overreach, particularly concerning investigations involving American and Israeli military personnel and officials.