US Moves to Sanction the International Criminal Court Itself; EU Calls It 'Deeply Regrettable'

• Rubio framed the measures as a ban on transactions with the court, describing the ICC as a "rogue" institution whose resources the US aims to cut off.
• He threatened to "end the ICC" unless it stopped what he called its "threats" against the US and its allies.
• The sanctions are due to take effect after six months.

The precise legal scope of the measures had not been fully published at the time of reporting, so their exact effect on the court's banks, staff and suppliers remains to be seen.

How Europe responded

• The European Commission said the decision was deeply regrettable and that it would work closely with the court so that it can keep functioning. It said it hoped the six-month delay would leave room for dialogue.
• European Council President António Costa, speaking alongside Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague, where the court is based, said international justice is the only alternative to revenge and that lasting peace depends on accountability.
• The EU's options include its "blocking statute", a legal tool that can forbid European companies from complying with certain foreign sanctions.

How we got here

This is the latest of several rounds. In August 2026, the US sanctioned the ICC's President, Judge Tomoko Akane, and a senior lawyer at the court, which the EU's foreign policy chief condemned in a statement on August 19. Washington had earlier sanctioned eight ICC judges and the court's prosecutor. The US administration has accused the court of abusing its power, including by issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

What is the ICC, and where does India stand?

The ICC, based in The Hague, was set up under the Rome Statute of 1998 to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. It is separate from the UN's International Court of Justice, which settles disputes between states.

India is not a member. Like the United States, China and Russia, India has not joined the Rome Statute, so the court has no jurisdiction over crimes committed on Indian territory unless the UN Security Council refers a situation to it. Even so, India's interest in a functioning system of international law, and in good relations with both the US and Europe, means it will watch this confrontation closely.