US hails Venezuela's ICC exit, calls court 'corrupt'

The United States government celebrated Venezuela's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labeling the tribunal as corrupt and lacking legitimacy. The U.S. State Department welcomed the decision announced by Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, stating that the new Venezuelan government aligns with Washington's efforts to "dismantle" the court.

"The ICC has been 'investigating' Nicolás Maduro since 2018 without any results," the State Department asserted, accusing the court of misdirecting resources towards countries with competent judicial systems that do not accept its jurisdiction. Washington characterized this as "overreach," "political bias," and "selective application of justice," further claiming the ICC is "not credible, independent, or legitimate."

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The ICC has been 'investigating' Nicolás Maduro since 2018 without any results.

The U.S. Administration under President Donald Trump highlighted that Maduro faces justice in the United States for alleged crimes. The statement concluded with a call for all member states to abandon the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty. This U.S. reaction followed Venezuela's announcement of its "firm and irrevocable" decision to denounce the Rome Statute and initiate withdrawal proceedings.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia argued that the ICC disproportionately targets African and Latin American nations, acting with bias driven by external interests. He stated that Rodríguez instructed the decision be communicated to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The ICC expressed regret over Venezuela's decision, reminding that the withdrawal will not be immediate, with Venezuela remaining a party for one year after formal notification and continuing cooperation with ongoing investigations.

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The U.S. welcomes the decision by interim President Delcy Rodriguez and Venezuela to withdraw from the ICC and the new Venezuelan government's partnership on American-led efforts to dismantle the corrupt and worthless ICC.