Washington prepares to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court

The Trump administration is preparing to impose sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court, in a step aimed at pressuring it to drop arrest warrants for Israeli officials and halt an investigation into US forces in Afghanistan. The sanctions have already been prepared and may be announced this week in conjunction with UN meetings.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to impose sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court, an escalatory step aimed at pressuring the court to drop arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and to halt a previous investigation related to US forces in Afghanistan. The sanctions have already been prepared, according to Reuters citing two informed sources, but the announcement date has not yet been decided. Reports indicate that the decision could become final early this week, coinciding with the UN General Assembly meetings. If sanctions are imposed, the US Treasury Department will prohibit US citizens and companies from providing money, goods, or services to the court, and the effects may extend to institutions that deal with it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in July a campaign to isolate the court. Trump's opposition to the court dates back to his first term and was renewed after the court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war on Gaza. The court warned that sanctions could affect its daily operations. In Japan, lawmakers called on the government of Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi to take a clearer stance on US sanctions against court president Tomoko Akane.