Washington, October 10 (TNA) The Donald Trump administration on Friday announced sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), only hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to international criminal justice.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would prohibit transactions with the Hague-based court, which the administration has described as a “rogue” institution. The sanctions are intended to restrict the ICC’s access to US-based financial services, technology companies and the US dollar.
“President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans. That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court,” Rubio said in a statement.
The measures form part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against the ICC over its investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel. The administration has accused the court of acting beyond its jurisdiction and pursuing politically motivated cases.
The timing of the announcement drew international attention because it came soon after the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Pillay as the recipient of the Peace Prize. Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist of Indian origin, served as an ICC judge from 2003 to 2012 and has also held senior positions in international justice and human-rights institutions.
Pillay previously headed the United Nations tribunal investigating the 1994 Rwanda genocide and later led a UN commission that examined alleged violations in Gaza. Her work has made her a prominent figure in international criminal law and human-rights advocacy.
The sanctions are expected to block ICC assets under US jurisdiction and prevent American companies and individuals from providing services to the court. However, exemptions announced by the US State Department provide a six-month wind-down period for some existing business and financial arrangements.
The ICC has condemned the action as an attack on the court’s independence and ability to carry out its mandate. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, have also said they strongly disagree with Washington’s move.
The latest action marks a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between Washington and the ICC, which is based in The Hague and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.