Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sent a clear message against US pressure calling on allies to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and cut funding. Carney stated that Canada's support for the court is firm and will continue.
Speaking at a press conference in Toronto, Carney said, "Canada is a proud member of the International Criminal Court. We support it with funding, personnel, our values and our actions, and we will continue to do so."
Noting that the ICC is playing an increasingly important role at a time of growing global instability, Carney said, "It provides an essential service in a more dangerous, more divided world. In fact, in many ways its responsibilities are greater than ever."
The US is known to have repeatedly criticized the ICC, especially after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as part of the Gaza war allegations. The US is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC.
Asked about Canadian ICC judge Kimberly Prost, who has been subjected to US sanctions, Carney said Ottawa would "provide support when needed" and added that they would work with US officials. However, Carney reiterated his resolve, saying, "Our support for the ICC is firm."
Last month, Chad became the latest country to formally begin the process of withdrawing from the court, following Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, was recently dismissed due to allegations of misconduct.
In August 2025, the US imposed sanctions on Canadian ICC judge Kimberly Prost as part of a case related to the activities of American soldiers in Afghanistan. Prost was one of four ICC officials targeted by the sanctions.
