The court condemned the move as an “assault on the rule of law” and urged its 125 member states to defend the institution, warning that the consequences extended beyond the court itself to the international legal order.

Founded in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The Trump administration has repeatedly criticised the court and previously imposed sanctions on some of its prosecutors and judges.

The latest measures go further by potentially penalising companies that provide services to the court. The United States signed the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, but never ratified it.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would not allow the court to prosecute American citizens and announced restrictions intended to cut off its resources and limit its operations.

Sanctions include six-month grace period

The US Treasury announced an initial six-month grace period for the sanctions, alongside exemptions for certain transactions involving telecommunications, software, pension payments and detainees.

Rubio said the measures were designed to give the court and its member states time to address Washington’s concerns. He added that the sanctions could be adjusted if those concerns were not resolved.

The United States has criticised the ICC over arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its investigation into alleged crimes involving US forces in Afghanistan. The court has said the Afghanistan investigation has been deprioritised.

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said the sanctions were intended to undermine international rule of law and the work of an independent judicial institution. She added that the court would continue its investigations and prosecutions.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the six-month period offered an opportunity for dialogue, while stressing that the bloc had options to protect the court’s work. Belgium’s foreign minister called for an EU blocking statute to shield the institution from the effects of US sanctions.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants against dozens of people linked to international conflicts, including Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. It has also sought the arrest of Hamas figures.

Nobel Prize highlights pressure on international justice

Pillay, a South African jurist who served on the ICC’s Appeals Chamber from 2003 to 2008, received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

The Nobel Committee said the award highlighted the importance of international judicial institutions at a time when judges and legal bodies were facing political pressure.

It said a system in which those responsible for war crimes are held accountable, and victims can obtain justice, was essential for a peaceful world.

The ICC enjoys the backing of most of its member states, including all European Union countries. The court is based in the Netherlands, which is also a member of the EU and NATO.

US sanctions can prevent American companies from conducting business with a designated organisation, potentially affecting banking, insurance, software and other essential services.

The Trump administration previously imposed targeted sanctions on ICC officials during his first term. Those measures were revoked under former president Joe Biden, before Washington introduced new sanctions against court officials shortly after Trump returned to office in January 2025.

In anticipation of further restrictions, ICC officials had already begun preparing alternative arrangements, including moving some office computers away from Microsoft software to open-source systems and exploring alternatives for banking and health insurance.