The US measures target the Court as an institution for the first time, after Washington had earlier this year already placed judges and prosecutors on a sanctions list. The US government wants to ban financial transactions with the court and cut off access to American resources and services. Companies are given six months to wind down their business relations with the Court.
Netherlands
The Court calls the sanctions an attack on the international legal order and the principle that no one is above the law. President Tomoko Akane has stated that the court will continue to operate independently. She emphasizes that judges must be able to rule solely based on laws and evidence, without political pressure from governments. On Friday afternoon, she was received in audience by Dutch King Willem-Alexander at the palace in The Hague.
The Dutch government has sharply condemned the American measures. Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen calls them very regrettable. Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan have also expressed their support. Berendsen sees the announced US six-month transition period as still allowing room for diplomatic consultations.
Promotion
Europe
Meanwhile, pressure is growing in the European Parliament on the European Commission to go beyond diplomatic protests. Five chairpersons of parliamentary committees demand immediate implementation of a European regulation that should protect companies against the consequences of American sanctions. Several Dutch members of the European Parliament are also pressing for concrete countermeasures.
The previously imposed sanctions by Washington against several individual ICC judges have already had effects. Canadian ICC judge Kimberly Prost lost access to various digital services and had her credit cards blocked. She also experienced issues with her health insurance.
Russia Also
Washington accuses the Court of unlawfully prosecuting Americans and Israelis. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio has announced plans to shut down the Court's financial capabilities. The ICC has rejected these accusations and refuses to cease its activities. Moreover, the US government expects allies to align themselves with its measures.
Russia is also increasing pressure on the Court. Moscow has requested the Netherlands and other countries to arrest and extradite nine ICC officials, including Japanese President Akane. They were previously convicted in absentia after the Court issued an arrest warrant against President Vladimir Putin. This means the ICC is now being directly pressured by both Washington and Moscow.