Trump government imposes sanctions on additional International Criminal Court officials
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found itself in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, with the US President authorizing a probe into alleged war crimes committed by American and Afghan forces, as well as the Taliban. This move occurred months before Trump signed an executive order in February 2020, imposing sanctions and visa restrictions on ICC personnel.
The sanctions, announced this week, target four ICC judges and three deputy prosecutors, including Kimberly Prost (Canada), Nicolas Guillou (France), Nazhat Shameem Khan (Fiji), and Mame Mandiaye Niang (Senegal). The officials were sanctioned for their work related to alleged Israeli and US war crimes investigations.
The ICC chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, is among those targeted by the sanctions. He was previously designated for ruling to authorize the ICC's investigation into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. Another sanctioned official, Nicolas Guillou, is being designated for ruling to authorize the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, who were targeted in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The executive order states that the sanctions are in response to the ICC's "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel." Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a statement on Wednesday regarding the sanctions, stating that the US will not tolerate the ICC's overreach and will protect its citizens and allies from unjust investigations.
The Trump administration has escalated its fight against the ICC, with several sanctions and executive orders issued primarily between early 2025 and mid-2025. These actions include tariffs on imports like aluminum and steel, which were doubled in June 2025 and affected global imports except the UK. Additionally, executive orders targeted law firms like Perkins Coie by restricting access to government facilities and threatening contract cancellations. However, courts ruled these orders unconstitutional and halted their enforcement.
The sanctions could potentially include entrance bans for the newly sanctioned ICC officials. The ICC has yet to respond to the US's actions, but the court's future role in investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity remains uncertain.
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