INTERVIEW: Why is President Trump targeting the International Criminal Court?
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US President Donald Trump's administration is preparing sanctions against the International Criminal Court as part of a campaign to dismantle the institution created to prosecute people accused of the world's most heinous crimes. So what are the implications?
The Trump administration is preparing new sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), intensifying a long-running US campaign against the world's only permanent court for prosecuting genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. In this interview, Zoe Paris, Advocacy Coordinator for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, explains the ICC's role as a court of last resort, stepping in when national governments are unwilling or unable to prosecute the gravest international crimes.
Paris argues that Washington's opposition stems from the ICC's willingness to investigate alleged crimes involving US nationals and key allies, particularly Israel. She outlines how proposed sanctions could restrict the provision of services to the court, potentially exposing individuals and companies to severe penalties and creating a chilling effect on organisations that support the ICC's work.
The discussion places the current dispute in historical context, noting that US hostility towards the court predates Donald Trump and can be traced through previous administrations, including measures designed to shield US citizens from ICC jurisdiction. However, Paris describes the current efforts to undermine the court as unprecedented in scale and ambition.
The interview also examines the broader consequences of sanctions, arguing they would affect not only investigations in Palestine and Afghanistan but also ICC work in Ukraine, Darfur, Libya and the Philippines. Despite these challenges, Paris maintains that the court, human rights organisations and civil society groups remain committed to pursuing justice, accountability and reparations for victims of mass atrocities, and will continue their work regardless of political pressure.
