The European Union has condemned the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning that the measures threaten the independence of international justice and calling on Washington to reverse its action.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 10, 2026, the EU said the ICC was a fundamental part of the rules-based international order and played a crucial role in holding individuals accountable for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
The bloc said it deeply regretted the US decision to target the court as an institution, stressing that the ICC must be allowed to operate independently without political pressure or external interference.
“The ICC must be able to operate independently, free from pressure or external interference,” the statement said.
The EU also welcomed Washington’s willingness to discuss its concerns with states that are parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court, and took note of the US decision to delay the implementation of its latest measures.
According to the EU, the delay creates an opportunity for diplomacy aimed at securing the reversal of the sanctions and preventing further actions that could undermine the court’s independence and integrity.
The bloc pledged to continue supporting the ICC, protecting its staff and those cooperating with it, including civil society representatives and service providers. It also said it stood ready to take necessary measures to ensure the court continued carrying out its mandate effectively.
The EU defended the court’s principle of complementarity, under which the ICC generally steps in when national authorities are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate or prosecute the most serious international crimes.
It argued that this principle recognises the primacy of competent national judicial systems, including that of the United States, rather than seeking to replace them.
US Sanctions Target Court’s Operations
The US sanctions were announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, October 9, marking an escalation in the Trump administration’s confrontation with the ICC. Unlike previous measures targeting individual judges and prosecutors, the latest action targets the court itself and could affect organisations and companies providing services to it.
The measures are intended to restrict the court’s access to US financial services, technology and transactions in US dollars. Washington announced a six-month grace period to allow affected entities to end prohibited business relationships, alongside exemptions for certain activities.
Rubio said the United States would not allow the court to prosecute American citizens, arguing that the ICC had exceeded its authority and threatened US sovereignty. Washington has also criticised the court’s investigations involving alleged crimes by US personnel in Afghanistan and arrest warrants issued for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, and has long opposed the court exercising jurisdiction over American nationals without US consent. Israel is also not a party to the treaty. However, the court maintains that it can investigate alleged crimes committed on the territory of a state that accepts its jurisdiction, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
The ICC has rejected the sanctions, with Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan saying the measures were intended to undermine international rule of law. She said the court would continue its investigations and prosecutions.
The court has also appealed to its 125 member states to strengthen their support, warning that the sanctions threaten an institution established to deliver justice to victims of mass atrocities.
Background
Established by the Rome Statute adopted in 1998, the ICC began operating in 2002 and is based in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the world’s first permanent international criminal court mandated to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
The court complements national justice systems rather than replacing them. Under the principle of complementarity, it generally exercises jurisdiction when national authorities are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate or prosecute the crimes concerned.
The ICC has investigated conflicts and alleged atrocities in several countries, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the Central African Republic and Ukraine. Its work has included cases involving armed group leaders and senior political and military figures.
The court’s relationship with Washington has remained contentious because the United States has not ratified the Rome Statute and has opposed investigations it considers a threat to its national interests.
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, Washington imposed sanctions on ICC officials in 2020 over the court’s Afghanistan investigation. President Joe Biden’s administration later revoked those measures. Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 and renewed sanctions against ICC officials before expanding the campaign to target the institution itself.
The latest US action has drawn concern from European governments and human rights organisations, which warn that restrictions on the court and its service providers could disrupt investigations, financial transactions and cooperation with civil society groups.
The EU says it will work with the court and its partners to safeguard its operations, while urging Washington to reverse the sanctions through diplomatic engagement.