Trump Administration Reportedly Prepares Broad Sanctions Against ICC

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing broad sanctions against the International Criminal Court that could significantly affect the tribunal’s finances and day-to-day operations.

The proposed measures would target the court as an institution rather than individual judges and prosecutors, marking a further escalation in Washington’s long-running dispute with the Hague-based tribunal.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the sanctions could prohibit most transactions involving the ICC following a grace period of between six and seven months.

Reuters, citing two people familiar with the matter, also reported that the Trump administration could announce the sanctions soon.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, said a final decision could be made during the United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York this week or shortly afterwards.

If implemented, the measures would generally prevent US citizens and companies from providing the ICC with money, goods or services without authorisation from the US Treasury.

The potential sanctions could have wider consequences because international banks and businesses often take a cautious approach to US sanctions, given their reliance on access to the American financial system.

Officials at the ICC have previously warned that broad sanctions against the institution could disrupt a range of routine activities, including the purchase of information technology and insurance services, the recruitment of investigators and the payment of salaries to employees, including American staff.

The ICC was established in 2002 as a permanent international court responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national authorities are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute such cases.

The United States is not a member of the ICC and has repeatedly challenged the court’s authority to investigate or prosecute nationals of countries that have not joined the institution.

Washington has already imposed sanctions on more than a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors under an executive order signed by Trump in February 2025.

In August, the administration added ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye to its sanctions list. Restrictions against them took effect on September 17.

The latest reported plans would represent a significant expansion of those measures by potentially restricting financial and commercial dealings with the court itself.

Tensions between Washington and the ICC intensified following the court’s decision in November 2024 to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel, like the United States, is not a member of the ICC and rejects the court’s jurisdiction.

The Israeli government has strongly disputed the allegations associated with the warrants.
The United States has also objected to an earlier ICC investigation into alleged crimes in Afghanistan involving US personnel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in July that Washington would pursue further measures aimed at isolating the court and called on other countries to withdraw from the institution.

The pressure on the ICC comes amid broader questions about international support for the court. Chad and Venezuela announced moves in July to withdraw from the ICC, following similar decisions by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The proposed US sanctions have also drawn opposition from rights organisations. Four US-based human rights groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in August, arguing that existing sanctions were interfering with their legal and human rights activities.

The reported measures could therefore create further challenges for the ICC as it continues its investigations and prosecutions involving alleged international crimes in different parts of the world.

The court has not been reported as having received formal notification of the proposed sanctions, and the details and timing of any final US measures remain subject to a decision by the Trump administration.

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