The trump administration has sanctioned the International Criminal Court after awarding the Nobel Prize to a former local judge

U.S. President Donald Trump's government announced on Friday that it will impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), a few hours after it became known that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to South African Navi Pillay, a former judge of that court. The United States is not part of the Rome Statute that created the Tribunal and does not welcome the investigation and prosecution of U.S. citizens or their allies - such as Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a video posted on social media that they refuse to prosecute " the militarywho defend the country, the border patrol agents who protect the nation and the elected leaderswho guarantee our national security, "and that they will ban" transactions with this illegal court, cutting off their resources and stopping our ability to act against us. "

However, despite the sanctions, Rubio has said that he expects a "diplomatic solution."

The measures announced by Washington include blocking the Court's assets and interests in the United States or under the control of American citizens and companies and reducing transactions with the Organization . 

At the same time, the Treasury Department has approved a number of exceptions to prevent the immediate suspension of certain proceedings of the Court, including a general 180-day licence to allow certain operations necessary for its operation.

Washington has included the Court itself in its sanctions regime this time, but it has previously taken a number of measures against 17 people linked to the organization, including judges and prosecutors. 

Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 that opened the door to punishing those responsible for investigations or proceedings against US citizens or allied countries, and expressly stated that he did so asa result of the arrest warrants issued in November 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu eta former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

International Criminal Court calls for action

The NZA has "emphatically" rejected US sanctions against the court and warned that this is an "attack on the rule of law" aimed at "disrupting" the organization's functioning and "intimidating" those working there.

The Court, which investigates and judges individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, has warned that "no one should be punished for engaging in the cause of justice" and hasurged the 125 member countriesto take "concrete measures" to ensure that the court can continue its work.

"The court will continue to carry out its mandate fully, independently and impartially, and based solely on rights and evidence, for the benefit of the many victims of serious crimes," said Japanese Judge Tomoko Akane, a member of the Court convicted by Trump.