US sanctions against the International Criminal Court are being prepared by the Trump administration, with the proposed measures expected to target the Hague-based institution itself rather than only individual judges and prosecutors. The plans, reported by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, would mark a significant expansion of Washington’s campaign against the court.
Two people familiar with the preparations told Reuters that the administration could announce the sanctions soon, although the timing has not been confirmed. The Wall Street Journal reported separately that a decision could be finalised during the United Nations General Assembly in New York or shortly afterwards.
Under the reported measures, most financial and commercial transactions involving the ICC could eventually be prohibited after a six to seven month grace period. The State Department has not formally announced the sanctions or said when they would take effect.
The proposed action would take the US confrontation with the court beyond sanctions on individual personnel. Washington has already imposed sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025. The new measures would instead target the institution and potentially make it difficult for US companies and citizens to provide the court with money, goods or services without specific authorisation from the US Treasury.
The dispute has been closely tied to the ICC’s investigations and proceedings involving Israel and the United States. In November 2024, the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the war in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations against its officials.
Washington has also objected to an ICC investigation into alleged crimes involving US personnel in Afghanistan. Neither the United States nor Israel is a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
The potential sanctions could affect parts of the ICC’s ordinary operations that depend on access to international financial and commercial services. Reuters reported that possible consequences include difficulties with payments, information technology, insurance and the employment of American staff. The measures could also create risks for organisations that do business with the court if they become concerned about exposure to US restrictions.
The administration’s latest move follows a broader effort by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to isolate the ICC. In July, Rubio called on countries to withdraw from the court, as Washington increased pressure on an institution it says has exceeded its authority by pursuing officials from countries that have not joined it.
The ICC has rejected US sanctions against its personnel and characterised such measures as an attack on judicial independence. The court’s supporters argue that its jurisdiction is established under the Rome Statute and is intended to allow individuals accused of the most serious international crimes to be prosecuted when national systems cannot or will not properly handle such cases.
Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression within the limits of its founding treaty. It is based in The Hague and operates independently of the United Nations, although the two institutions cooperate on a number of matters.
Targeting the court as an institution would therefore represent a broader confrontation than Washington’s earlier measures against specific ICC officials. It would also put pressure on organisations and companies that provide services to the tribunal, potentially extending the practical reach of the US campaign beyond the court’s own staff.
For now, the reported sanctions remain pending. Neither the White House nor the State Department has formally announced the measures, leaving their precise scope, timing and implementation unclear. What is clear is that the administration is considering a step that would move the US confrontation with the International Criminal Court from targeting individuals to putting pressure on the court itself.
