By SUNTV Global Channel | July 13, 2026
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced a broad campaign aimed at reducing the influence of the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the Hague-based tribunal as a threat to U.S. sovereignty.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of State, following the authorization of a “whole-of-government” strategy by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to counter the activities of the international court.
According to the State Department, the initiative is intended to prevent the ICC from investigating or prosecuting American military personnel and government officials.
Washington maintains that the United States is not subject to the ICC’s jurisdiction because it never ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
As part of the new strategy, the U.S. government plans to intensify diplomatic efforts to encourage countries to reconsider their support for the ICC. Officials also indicated that additional measures, including visa restrictions and economic sanctions targeting ICC officials and affiliated entities, remain under consideration.
The administration further warned that countries benefiting from U.S. security cooperation while supporting the ICC could face increased diplomatic scrutiny.
The latest move marks a significant escalation in the long-standing disagreement between Washington and the International Criminal Court. Successive U.S. administrations have argued that the court lacks legal authority to prosecute American citizens without the consent of the United States or authorization by the United Nations Security Council.
The ICC, established in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is mandated to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression where national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so.
Analysts say the latest U.S. policy could further strain relations between Washington and the ICC while influencing international cooperation on global justice and accountability efforts.
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