The European Commission on Tuesday rejected the US administration’s campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemning threats against the court’s judges, their families, and cooperating individuals as “completely unacceptable.”
The statement followed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s criticism of the ICC on Monday, amid escalating tensions between Washington and the Hague-based court over investigations tied to Israel and arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni emphasized the EU’s unwavering commitment to international criminal justice, stating that attacks on judicial independence or threats against court personnel undermine global accountability efforts.
In a video and op-ed on X, Rubio accused the ICC of using legal frameworks to target the US, claiming the court and its allies were engaging in a “legal war” against American interests. He warned of potential prosecutions of US citizens by foreign judges.
Tensions between the Trump administration and the ICC have intensified, with the US imposing sanctions on ICC officials, including the Prosecutor, over investigations related to Israel. The dispute deepened after the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to Gaza.
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