US Secretary of State declares US to shut down International Criminal Court
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the launch of a campaign to dismantle the ICC. Washington is also threatening its allies with cuts in aid if they support the court, according to CNN.
Rubio accused the ICC of "waging a war against our country, not with bullets or missiles," but with "the force of so-called international law."The Donald Trump administration considers the court’s activities a direct threat to national security.
The conflict has been ongoing since Trump’s first term. At that time, the court attempted to investigate the actions of US military personnel in Afghanistan.
Ultimatum for partners and allies
Now the US is demanding that other countries make a choice. Those who continue to support the ICC may lose US funding.
"Nations that refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on US assistance are likely to come under increased scrutiny," a State Department spokesperson says.
Washington is addressing those who:
- Cooperate with US law enforcement agencies
- Host US military bases on their territory
- Benefit from the US security policy.
These countries, which include many EU member states, must officially reject the ICC’s jurisdiction over US citizens.
Rubio has already outlined the main tools of influence in his article.
"Using all the tools at our government’s disposal, working beside every ally with whom we can make common cause, we will dismantle the ICC—brick by brick, if necessary," wrote Marco Rubio.
How US will fight ICC
To achieve its goal, the US will impose complete diplomatic isolation on the institution. It plans to ban travel for ICC staff, revoke visas, and impose harsh economic sanctions.
Rubio considers the ISS a tool of political struggle. He claims that the organization is controlled by forces hostile to Washington.
In his view, the organization is "backed and run by a powerful network of leftist nongovernment organizations, smug globalists, and hostile Third World governments united by their enmity toward the US."
Context
The Trump White House has been at odds with the ICC since last year. The reasons include investigations into the actions of US military personnel in Afghanistan, the destruction of boats carrying drug terrorists, and an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu.
In addition to Trump, Putin, who has an arrest warrant issued against him, strongly disapproves of the International Criminal Court. Russia took offense at this and, in absentia, handed down sentences to the judges and prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who issued the arrest warrants for Putin.
