Trump Orders Sanctions Against International Criminal Court
Trump Administration Slaps Sanctions on International Criminal Court
In a bold move, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what he described as “baseless” investigations targeting the United States and its close ally, Israel. The White House stated that the court in The Hague had “abused its power” by issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently met with President Trump.
Reasons for Sanctions
The executive order cited the ICC’s alleged “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.” This refers to ICC probes into alleged war crimes by US service members in Afghanistan and Israeli troops in Gaza. The order also mentioned the arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas’ military chief, Mohammed Deif, for “crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
Sanctions Imposed
As a response to these actions, President Trump ordered asset freezes and travel bans against ICC officials, employees, and their family members, as well as anyone deemed to have assisted in the court’s investigations. The sanctions serve as a show of support following Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, during which Trump unveiled a controversial plan for the US to “take over” Gaza and relocate Palestinians to other Middle Eastern countries.
History of Conflict with the ICC
This is not the first time the Trump administration has clashed with the ICC. During his first term, Trump imposed financial sanctions and a visa ban on the ICC’s then-prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and other senior officials and staff. This was in response to the ICC’s investigation into allegations of war crimes against US soldiers in Afghanistan. Although Trump’s order did not explicitly mention Israel, officials were also upset by the ICC’s probe into the situation in the Palestinian territories.
Response from the Biden Administration
President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump in 2021, lifted the sanctions imposed on the ICC soon after taking office. Prosecutor Karim Khan, who took over from Bensouda, shifted the focus of the investigation away from the US and towards the Taliban. Despite this, Biden strongly condemned the arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu in November.
Political Backlash and Future Prospects
The US House recently passed a bill to sanction the ICC, but Senate Democrats blocked it, citing concerns that the bill could harm US allies and businesses. However, there has been bipartisan criticism of both the ICC’s actions and the sanctions imposed on Netanyahu. The ongoing conflict between the US and the ICC underscores the challenges of international justice and diplomacy in the modern world.