Trump Urges ICC Member States to Leave International Criminal Court

GOOBJOOG NEWS | WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has called on all countries belonging to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the tribunal, intensifying Washington’s campaign against the court.

Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Trump described the ICC as an institution that had exceeded its authority and said the United States would not accept its jurisdiction over American personnel.

“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately,” he said.

The comments mark a further escalation in the Trump administration’s opposition to the court, which is based in The Hague and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, and has long disputed the court’s authority over US citizens. Washington’s current campaign has intensified following ICC action involving Israeli officials, including an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions on ICC officials and has been preparing broader measures against the institution, according to reports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington wants to isolate the court.

Trump’s appeal comes as the ICC faces a period of pressure from several directions. Five countries; Venezuela, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have announced their withdrawal from the court over the past year, according to AP. The reasons given by those governments have varied, including objections to the court’s work and concerns about external influence.

But other member states have reaffirmed their support for the institution.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said during the UN General Assembly that her country would continue to support the ICC, illustrating the differing positions among member states over the future of international criminal justice.

The call also came as world leaders gathered in New York for a General Assembly session dominated by disputes over international law, conflicts and the role of multilateral institutions.

For countries that remain parties to the Rome Statute, withdrawal would require following the treaty’s formal process and would not result automatically from the US president’s appeal.

The debate over the ICC is therefore likely to remain part of the wider discussion at the UN over the limits of international institutions, national sovereignty and accountability for serious crimes.