President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two judges and two prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC), as Washington steps up pressure on the court over its targeting of Israeli leaders and past decisions to investigate American officials.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the court “a national security threat that has become an instrument of legal warfare” against the United States and Israel.
Washington sanctioned Nicolas Yann Guillou of France, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal and Kimberly Prost of Canada, according to the US Treasury and State Departments. All of the officials were involved in cases involving Israel and the United States.
“The United States has been clear and consistent in its opposition to the politicization of the ICC, the abuse of power, the disregard for our national sovereignty and illegitimate judicial overreach,” Rubio said.
The second round of sanctions comes less than three months after the administration set a precedent by imposing sanctions on four other ICC judges. It represents a serious escalation that is likely to hamper the functioning of the court and the prosecutor’s office as they pursue key cases, including war crimes charges against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
