ICC rejects U.S. sanctions, says 'history will judge this moment'
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned U.S. sanctions against its staff, labeling the move an assault on the rule of law. The U.S. administration, led by President Trump, continues its campaign against the court, while the ICC vows to maintain its independence.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights the ongoing tension between international legal institutions and national sovereignty.
The International Criminal Court said Friday (October 9, 2026) that U.S. sanctions on the institution were an attack on international law and warned that "history will judge this moment".
The sanctions are "an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law", said the court in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier Friday (October 9, 2026) that Washington would ban transactions with what he called a "rogue court," escalating a long-running campaign by President Donald Trump's administration against the court.
The court said such actions were aimed at intimidating ICC staff and disrupting its activities, vowing it would not be deterred.
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