EU leaders rally behind International Criminal Court after fresh US sanctions
EU leaders have expressed support for the International Criminal Court following US sanctions against its officials for investigating alleged war crimes in Gaza. The US administration, led by President Trump, has criticized the court as politicized and an infringement on state sovereignty.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant diplomatic rift between the US and its European allies regarding the legitimacy and jurisdiction of international judicial bodies.
The presidents of the European Commission and Council, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, have issued words of support for the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) after the US administration announced it would sanction top officials investigating Israel's actions in Gaza."The ICC helps deliver justice to the victims of some of the world’s most horrific crimes," both EU leaders said in a statement."To carry out this essential work, its judges and officials must be able to act independently and without external pressure," they added.On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US would sanction the ICC's president, Japan's Tomoko Akane, and senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, who was tasked with probing war crimes allegedly committed by Israel in its war in Gaza.Rubio described the court as a "corrupt and fatally politicised supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate", adding that…
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