Trump administration readies sweeping sanctions against ICC, reports say

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters. Published On 21 Sep 202621 Sep 2026.

Key points

• Washington has already sanctioned more than a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025.
• In August, it continued the court's President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye to the list, with restrictions on them taking effect on September 17.
• The Journal, citing anonymous authorities, stated a decision could be finalised during this week's United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York or shortly afterwards.
• After Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, chad and Venezuela moved in July to withdraw from the court.
• The Trump administration is reportedly preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) that could disrupt the tribunal's finances and day-to-day operations.

Notably, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) that could disrupt the tribunal's finances and day-to-day operations.

In practice, the US sanctions would prohibit most transactions with the ICC after a grace period of six to seven months, The Wall Street Journal documented on Sunday.

Notably, the move would mark a sharp escalation in Washington's campaign against the Hague-based court by targeting the institution itself rather than individual judges and prosecutors.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration intends to announce the sanctions shortly, according to the Reuters news agency, quoting two sources familiar with the matter.

Meanwhile, the Journal, citing anonymous authorities, stated a decision could be finalised during this week's United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York or shortly afterwards.

If imposed, the measures would generally bar US citizens and firms from providing the ICC with capital, goods or services without a licence from the US Treasury.

Banks and other firms often take an especially cautious approach to US sanctions as they rely on access to the American financial system.

For context, the ICC president and registrar have previously cautioned that sanctions on the organisation as a whole could interfere with its ability to purchase information technology and insurance services, hire investigators and create routine payments, including salaries for American employees.

Notably, the ICC was created in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.

In August, it continued the court's President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye to the list, with restrictions on them taking effect on September 17. The United States has never joined the court.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration notes the court has exceeded its authority by pursuing office-holders from countries that are not ICC members.

Relations deteriorated sharply after the court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel, like the US, is not an ICC member and rejects the court's jurisdiction.

Washington has additionally objected to an earlier ICC investigation into alleged abuses in Afghanistan involving US personnel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a campaign in July to further isolate the court and called on other countries to withdraw from it.

Trump's move adds to growing opposition to the ICC in recent months.

Four US-based rights groups sued the Trump administration in August, arguing that existing sanctions obstruct their legal and human rights work.

For now, trump administration readies sweeping sanctions against ICC, reports say remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.