U.S. Administration Announces Plan to Dismantle International Criminal Court

The administration of President Donald Trump announced a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC). State Department officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the United States will “disable systematically” the court, using sanctions, travel bans and visa revocations against ICC officials and judges. Rubio argued the court threatens U.S. sovereignty and could prosecute American citizens, citing recent ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas figures.

The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute that created the ICC, and more than 100 countries have agreements not to surrender U.S. nationals to the court. The announced policy seeks to weaken the ICC’s authority worldwide, with Rubio promising to “tear down the court brick by brick” if necessary.