Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sweeping new sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its senior leadership, escalating the Trump administration's campaign against what it describes as a threat to American sovereignty.
The move follows recent diplomatic pressure by the Trump administration that convinced several South American nations to withdraw their support for the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC in The Hague. Washington is now entering a new phase of its pressure campaign against the international tribunal.
Rubio personally announced the sanctions, stating: "Last month, I launched a diplomatic campaign to dismantle the threat the International Criminal Court poses to our national sovereignty."
"The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and on senior prosecuting attorney Abdulai Siy," he declared.
According to Rubio, the action reflects "an uncompromising mission to protect Americans from these ridiculous tribunals. Americans will never find themselves dragged overseas to stand trial for invented offenses."
