Venezuela notifies UN of withdrawal from ICC, alleging 'bias'
Venezuela has formally notified the UN of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing alleged bias against Global South nations. This move follows years of tension and investigations into alleged crimes against humanity by the Venezuelan government.
Why it matters
The withdrawal challenges the authority of international legal institutions and reflects growing geopolitical friction between the ICC and certain sovereign states.
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister said on Friday (July 24, 2026) the country has formally notified the United Nations of its “irrevocable” decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which had been conducting a multi-year investigation into members of its armed forces and other officials.
The government justified the move by alleging a “geographical bias” within the court, claiming it disproportionately targets nations in the Global South, specifically across Africa and Latin America, Felix Plasencia said in a post on X.
Echoing his words, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the institution had been used to target the country.
“The International Criminal Court has been so heavily politicized to attack the Venezuelan people and the Venezuelan state that we do not believe in that type of organization or institution,” Ms. Rodriguez said during a public event.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in