The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing new and broad sanctions against the International Criminal Court, in a move that could directly affect the court’s ability to operate within the global financial system.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the measures under consideration would be far broader than previous U.S. sanctions targeting officials and individuals at the court.
The move comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and the court, which is based in The Hague, particularly after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sanctions could target the court’s financial transactions
According to the report, the proposed measures could prohibit most transactions with the International Criminal Court after a grace period of six to seven months.
If implemented, the sanctions could affect the court’s ability to conduct transactions in U.S. dollars and could also hinder its dealings with financial institutions linked to the U.S. financial system.
If adopted, the measures would represent a major expansion of U.S. sanctions policy toward the court, shifting from targeting individuals and officials to imposing restrictions that could affect the institution itself.
Netanyahu arrest warrant at the heart of the dispute
Tensions between the United States and the International Criminal Court intensified significantly after the court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The court said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the two were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war in Gaza.
Israel rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction. The United States also opposed the court’s proceedings against the Israeli officials.
Washington previously imposed sanctions on court officials
The United States has previously imposed sanctions on officials linked to the International Criminal Court.
The U.S. Treasury Department also maintains a sanctions program specifically targeting the court, and the Trump administration has continued taking action against several of its officials.
But the new sanctions under consideration could be broader because they may target the court’s ability to conduct international financial transactions itself.
Potential impact on the court’s operations
Given the major role of the U.S. dollar and U.S.-linked financial institutions in the global financial system, comprehensive sanctions could create significant challenges for the International Criminal Court’s financial operations.
The U.S. administration has not yet officially announced the final details of the new sanctions or the specific date on which they would take effect.
The measures therefore remain in preparation, amid anticipation of further details about the scope of the sanctions and how they would be implemented.
