US Prepares Sweeping Sanctions Against International Criminal Court

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to impose extensive sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, which would effectively prohibit most transactions with the institution. According to senior officials cited by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, the move could be finalized as early as this week, coinciding with or shortly after the UN General Assembly convening in New York. The planned measures include a ban on U.S. dollar transactions, which would sever the court's access to significant parts of the global financial system and lead to its economic paralysis. Declassified documents indicate a grace period of approximately six months before the ban takes effect, with exceptions for transactions solely related to communication services. While the U.S. State Department and Treasury Department declined to comment, a State Department spokesperson referenced Senator Marco Rubio's stance that the ICC poses a threat to American sovereignty. These new sanctions represent a significant escalation from previous U.S. actions. Previously, the U.S. imposed individual sanctions on ICC officials, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who was removed from his position in July amid allegations of misconduct, President Tomoko Akane, and other judges. Furthermore, in February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions and travel bans on individuals who aided investigations against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. In July, Senator Rubio stated that the U.S. would systematically work to neutralize the ICC's activities and dismantle it piece by piece. The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant, alleging war crimes and the use of starvation in Gaza. Israel has vehemently rejected these accusations and denied the court's jurisdiction. European nations, including Japan, have pledged to defend the ICC against the U.S. action, and the European Union may even mandate its banks to continue working with the court. However, it remains unclear how these entities will practically cope with the U.S. dollar transaction ban.