The US regime under President Donald Trump has intensified its campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of being "politicized." The latest move targets the court's president, Tomoko Akane of Japan, and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, with sanctions.

The Hague-based court condemned the sanctions as "a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution," stating they "undermine the rule of law" and jeopardize the international legal order. The court vowed to continue its mandate with independence and impartiality under the Rome Statute.

Although the US regime signed the Rome Statute in 2000, it never ratified it. The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized the ICC, which prosecutes war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, as "politicized."

The European Union and several member states, including Germany, France, and Spain, voiced strong support for the ICC. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa stated they "stand firmly" with the court, emphasizing the need for judges to act without external pressure.

German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig called the US regime's actions "deeply distressing," noting the irony that the US helped establish international criminal law at the Nuremberg trials. France condemned the sanctions, expressing solidarity with the targeted magistrates. Japan, the court's largest funder, described the measures as "very unfortunate."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, framing them as part of an "unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham of a court." The move follows the ICC's 2024 arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which the US regime has denounced as "illegitimate and baseless."

Source: www.dw.com