ICC Terminates Axa Insurance Deal Amid Escalating US Sanctions Pressure

The Hague tribunal and the Paris-based carrier ended the deal as US criticism and potential financial restrictions intensify.

1 Oct 2026

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially terminated its insurance contract with French health and life insurer Axa, effective immediately, while seeking to onboard a different provider. The shift, initially reported by the Financial Times, occurs as US President Donald Trump escalates his rhetorical campaign against the Hague-based institution.

Late last month, the Wall Street Journal disclosed that the White House was poised to sanction the ICC following the court’s warrant requesting the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Washington has already sanctioned over a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors, including the court’s president, as of August.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump characterized the ICC as “evil” and “a rogue institution,” urging nations to withdraw. Naoero, a small Pacific island state formerly called Nauru, remains the only country to comply.

The Trump administration maintains the ICC overreaches by asserting jurisdiction over nationals from nations that have not ratified the Rome Statute, such as the US and Israel. Reports suggest sanctions could forbid the court from processing US dollar transactions.

Citing the Financial Times, both parties feared sanctions would force Axa to halt business with the court. After months of negotiation, they could not reach a compromise that avoided a “blocking statute,” a tool designed to insulate European companies from sanctions enacted by third nations.

“Axa and the Court have decided by mutual agreement to terminate the contractual relationship,” an ICC spokesperson told Reuters. Neither organization responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment. The Financial Times indicated the court would switch to a new health insurer but did not name the successor.

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