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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a video posted on social media that Washington has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court. He said President Donald Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans, adding that the United States does not accept any jurisdiction over its citizens. "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will dismantle it," Rubio said. The decision was announced hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pillay recently led preparation of a UN report that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

The court issued a written statement confirming that the sanctions target it as an institution. It described the move as unprecedented and said it struck at an independent judicial body created by treaty and empowered by 125 states parties to investigate genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. ICC President Tomoko Akane said the court would continue its mandate impartially, guided only by law and evidence.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the decision and voiced deep concern that it would hamper the court's work and its staff. UN human rights chief Volker Turk called the sanctions unacceptable and urged the 125 Rome Statute parties to protect the ICC. The European Union expressed deep regret and said a six-month implementation period left room for dialogue, pledging to work with all states parties to safeguard the court's independence.

Key Takeaways

• The US imposed sanctions on the ICC as an institution, which Rubio said aimed to prevent any move against American nationals.
• The ICC called the step unprecedented and said it undermined the principle that no one is above the law.
• The UN chief, the UN human rights commissioner and the EU condemned the decision and called for support for the court.