World

ICC: EU Rejects US Campaign to 'Disable' International Court

Herz — World Desk · 14 July 2026 at 16:42 · 30s summary · 3 min read

The essentials

The European Union rejected on July 14, 2026 Washington's arguments against the International Criminal Court (ICC). One day earlier, the U.S. government had announced its intention to "systematically disable" the tribunal. EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stated that the ICC "does not target sovereign states" and that attacks against its officials are "simply unacceptable." Since Donald Trump's return to power, 11 ICC officials have been sanctioned by Washington, including the Chief Prosecutor and 8 judges.

The EU rejects US allegations that the ICC threatens sovereignty
The U.S. announced plans to 'systematically disable' the ICC on July 13, 2026
Eleven ICC officials have been sanctioned since Trump returned to power
The ICC has no jurisdiction over U.S. territory or American nationals
U.S. pressure threatens countries refusing to leave the ICC

IStGH: EU lehnt US-Kampagne zur Deaktivierung des internationalen Gerichtshofs ab — Dkfnsk12, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

What We Know

The European Union rejected on July 14, 2026 allegations by Washington against the International Criminal Court (ICC), an international criminal tribunal created in 1998 to prosecute crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. According to The Guardian, Washington had announced the previous day its intention to "systematically disable" the tribunal.

EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stated that the ICC "does not target sovereign states" and "exercises its jurisdiction over individuals, perpetrators of the most serious crimes." Attacks or threats against its officials "are simply unacceptable."

The American Position

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a video on July 13, 2026 claiming that the ICC "threatens every aspect of our political and legal system." In an opinion piece, he referenced border agents and American elected officials "dragged before an international court."

The State Department indicated that its campaign would include pressure on other nations to withdraw from the ICC. Countries that refused to do so while benefiting from U.S. aid would face increased scrutiny.

Sanctions and Concrete Consequences

Since Donald Trump's return to power, the United States has placed 11 ICC officials under sanctions, including the Chief Prosecutor and 8 judges. These measures have resulted in credit card cancellations, closure of Amazon and Google accounts, and travel bans to the United States.

ICC officials sanctioned by the U.S. since Trump's return, including the Chief Prosecutor and 8 judges

~100

Countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Washington to not extradite their nationals to the ICC

What International Law Says

The ICC can only investigate crimes committed in states that are parties to the Rome Statute—the international treaty adopted in 1998 that created the tribunal. Since the United States has not ratified this treaty, it contests any authority of the tribunal over its nationals.

Approximately 100 countries have also signed bilateral agreements with Washington committing not to surrender U.S. nationals to the ICC.