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ICC signatories prepare for possible US sanctions against court itself — source

According to the source, this includes the search for practical mechanisms that will allow the ICC to continue operating in the event of a further expansion of US restrictions

© REUTERS/ Jerry Lampen

THE HAGUE, September 3. /TASS/. Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are preparing for the possibility that the United States may impose sanctions against the court as an organization and are developing measures that would ensure its operation under such a scenario, a diplomatic source told TASS on Thursday.

"The [ICC] participating states are already preparing for a scenario in which sanctions may be imposed against the court itself as an organization," the source noted.

According to him, this includes the search for practical mechanisms that will allow the ICC to continue operating in the event of a further expansion of US restrictions.

Moreover, a Dutch government document obtained by TASS states that the country’s authorities are considering "various scenarios," including the possible imposition of sanctions against the ICC as an organization and broader restrictions on US companies and financial institutions providing services to the court.

In particular, the Netherlands jointly with other states that are signatories to the Rome Statute and the court itself, are working on alternative solutions in the areas of banking services and payments, insurance, information and cloud technologies, telecommunications, and international travel.

The document also states that Washington’s stance regarding the ICC, as publicly articulated by the American administration, was reiterated in bilateral contacts with The Hague. The Netherlands, in turn, continues to discuss with the United States the consequences of its policy regarding the court.

On August 18, the press office of the US Department of State released a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing the imposition of sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye. The current US administration has imposed sanctions on the court several times. The decree providing for the imposition of sanctions against ICC officials was signed by US President Donald Trump on February 6, 2025.

The US government has accused the ICC of engaging in unlawful actions against Washington and its allies, such as Israel. The decree allows for the imposition of financial and visa restrictions against ICC employees involved in investigations concerning US citizens or citizens of their allies, as well as members of their families.

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