US prepares new sanctions against International Criminal Court, report says

The Trump administration is preparing a new round of sanctions against the International Criminal Court, according to a report cited on Sunday. The measures would mark a further escalation in Washington's pressure on the court, which is based in The Hague. If implemented, the sanctions could significantly restrict the court's access to the global financial system.

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The reported package would go beyond earlier US action against individual ICC officials. In August, Washington sanctioned the court's president, Tomoko Akane, and senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. At the time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as "corrupt" and "fatally politicised", according to the report.

The new measures are said to target the institution itself, with most financial transactions potentially prohibited. The report said the sanctions could include a grace period of six to seven months before taking full effect. That delay would give the court time to adjust, but the measures could still disrupt operations if dollar-based transactions are blocked.

The ICC is responsible for prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, and it acts when national authorities are unwilling or unable to investigate. The move comes amid tensions over the court's actions involving Israel and possible scrutiny of US operations abroad. The report said the latest pressure follows the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close ally of Donald Trump.

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It also comes amid concern in Washington that the court could interfere with US operations in countries that are parties to the Rome Statute, including possible actions against cartels in South America. The ICC was created by the Rome Statute in 1998 and is headquartered in The Hague in the Netherlands. Unlike other international courts, it prosecutes individuals rather than states or governments.

That structure has made it a frequent target of political criticism from governments that reject its jurisdiction or object to specific investigations. It was not immediately clear when the sanctions would be formally announced, and US officials have not confirmed the timing. The report said the decision could be finalised this week during the United Nations General Assembly.

What remains unclear is the exact scope of the measures, how quickly they would be enforced, and whether they would affect the court's day-to-day work before the grace period expires.

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