U.S. sanctions ICC shortly after former ICC judge wins Nobel Peace Prize

The Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions against the International Criminal Court hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was given the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, saying the Trump administration is seeking to curb the court’s operations, arguing it has "abused" its authority. 

"Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC," Rubio said. 

The sanctions require U.S. individuals and businesses to wind down certain dealings with the court over a six-month period with some exemptions.

The Hague-based ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

The Trump administration has opposed its investigations involving U.S. personnel and Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is subject to an ICC arrest warrant.

The court condemned the sanctions as an attempt to obstruct justice and undermine international legal order.

The announcement shortly after the Norwegian Nobel Committee named Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist and former United Nations human rights chief, as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate.