ICC Rejects US Sanctions, says It Won’t be Deterred

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected sanctions imposed by the United States, describing them as an attempt to prevent it from fulfilling its mandate.

The US imposed sanctions on the ICC on Friday, just hours after one of ‌its former judges won the Nobel peace prize.

Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, said President Donald Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans.

“Either the ICC ⁠will end ​its threats, or we will end the ICC. We expect our allies, many of whom are part of ​the ICC and that rely on American servicemembers for their defense, to rein in the court,” Rubio said.

Reacting to the sanctions in a video statement, Tomoko Akane, ICC president, said they were aimed at disrupting the court’s operations and at intimidating those who work for or cooperate with the institution.

“The court, for its part, will not be deterred,” Akane said.

“The court will 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.”

Akane urged the ICC’s 125 member states to continue taking “concrete actions” to ensure that the court has the necessary means to carry out its work.

“This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law,” she said.

“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.”

US sanctions typically bar American companies from doing business with ​sanctioned entities, potentially forcing banks to close accounts, ​insurers to end coverage, and software ⁠companies to halt cooperation.

Rubio said the sanctions imposed on Friday were structured in a way to allow negotiations and “present a solution to address our ​concerns”.