ICC prepares for sanctions from Trump administration - The Guardian
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prepares for the possibility that Donald Trump will impose economic sanctions against it. This could happen this week following his inauguration as US president, The Guardian informs.
According to the media outlet, ICC officials are preparing for the Trump administration to swiftly impose financial and travel restrictions against the court and its leadership after taking office.
Sources cited by The Guardian reveal that the International Criminal Court is bracing for a "worst-case scenario" in which the US imposes sanctions on the institution in addition to measures targeting specific individuals.
The outlet's interlocutors noted that sanctions against senior court officials would cause minor inconveniences compared to sanctions targeting the entire institution, which would pose a threat to the court's very existence.
Key services at risk from institutional sanctions include the ICC's access to banking and payment systems, IT infrastructure, and insurance providers.
Among other things, the ICC relies on Microsoft Azure's cloud platform for its operations, and losing access to it would paralyze the court's investigations.
Why Trump may impose sanctions on the ICC
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
The court accuses them of "war crimes" in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli Defense Forces' operation against Hamas militants.
However, the White House declared that the US "categorically rejects" the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
Additionally, the US Senate has threatened sanctions against countries willing to arrest the Israeli Prime Minister.
