US Prepares Sweeping Sanctions on International Criminal Court

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to impose extensive sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, which could cripple its financial operations. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing senior administration officials, the U.S. plans to prohibit most transactions with the ICC after a grace period of about six months. This would include banning the use of the U.S. dollar for such transactions, potentially isolating the court from significant parts of the global financial system.

This move represents a sharp escalation in Washington's efforts against the ICC, particularly since the court issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. Unlike previous sanctions targeting individual officials, these new measures would apply broadly to the institution itself. The sanctions are expected to exclude only transactions related to communication services.

While the exact timing of the final decision remains unclear, U.S. officials indicated it could be announced as early as this week, coinciding with the UN General Assembly in New York, or shortly thereafter. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on future sanctions but reiterated Secretary of State Marco Rubio's stance that the ICC poses a threat to U.S. sovereignty. The Treasury Department and the ICC did not respond to requests for comment.

The U.S. has previously sanctioned ICC officials, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and the court's president, among others. However, the proposed sanctions are described as significantly harsher and more comprehensive. European nations and other allies, such as Japan, have pledged to defend the court against U.S. actions, though the specifics of their support remain uncertain. The European Union might compel its banks to continue working with the ICC despite potential U.S. sanctions.

These developments follow earlier actions by the Trump administration, including a presidential order in February 2025 imposing economic sanctions and travel bans on those who aided the investigation into Netanyahu and Gallant. In July, Secretary of State Rubio vowed to "systematically neutralize" the ICC's activities, potentially dismantling it piece by piece through expanded sanctions, visa revocations, and pressure on allies to withdraw from the court.

The ICC has previously stated there is a reasonable basis to believe Netanyahu and Gallant committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza war, including the alleged use of starvation as a weapon. Both Netanyahu and Gallant have denied these allegations, and Israel has rejected the court's jurisdiction over its affairs. Reports also indicated that former Prosecutor Khan sought to investigate ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding their role in expanding settlements in the West Bank.