"War against our country": US launches large-scale campaign against International Criminal Court in The Hague

The United States is launching a significant campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, framing the institution as an existential threat to American sovereignty. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the initiative, asserting that the ICC and its allies are engaged in a "war against our country," not with conventional weapons, but through statutes, treaties, and what is termed "international law."

Rubio emphasized the danger of foreign judges prosecuting Americans for defending their nation, stating, "If we stand idly by, we will all be subject to foreign judges sitting thousands of miles away, constantly at risk of being prosecuted or even imprisoned for the so-called crime of defending their own country."

The U.S. is not a member of the ICC. The Trump administration intensified pressure on the court, imposing sanctions on magistrates, including the chief prosecutor. These measures include denying them entry into the U.S. and blocking their financial transactions.

These sanctions are partly a response to the ICC's investigations into Israel, a U.S. ally, and the 2024 arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The State Department indicated that all diplomatic avenues will now be pursued to prevent Americans from being targeted by the court. Potential measures reportedly include travel restrictions, visa revocations, new sanctions, and diplomatic pressure on countries to withdraw from the court.