US sanctions International Criminal Court, drawing widespread international condemnation

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the steps were developed to paralyze the operations of what he called a “rogue court”Image credit: WAM

The United States enforced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, prohibiting deals with the tribunal in a relocation Washington stated was planned to secure its sovereignty and residents from prosecution, drawing prevalent condemnation from the United Nations and global partners.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the procedures were developed to maim the operations of what he called a “rogue court”cautioning that Washington would look for to take apart the organization unless allied nations did something about it to rein it in.

The sanctions were revealed hours after previous ICC judge Navi Pillay was granted the Nobel Peace Prize.

The court declined the procedures, explaining them as an attack on the guideline of law and the structures of the worldwide legal order.

In a joint declaration, the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom declared their “continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC”revealing strong opposition to the United States sanctions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres likewise condemned the choice. In a declaration provided by his representative, Stéphane Dujarric, he explained the sanctions as “a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice”declaring the UN’s assistance for the court’s self-reliance and its authorities.