The Trump administration is reportedly preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) that could significantly disrupt the tribunal’s finances and day-to-day operations. The proposed measures, which could be finalized this week or soon after, would prohibit most transactions with the ICC after a grace period of six to seven months, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This move represents a significant escalation of Washington’s campaign against the Hague-based court, shifting from targeting individual officials to imposing sanctions on the institution itself. The sanctions, if imposed, would generally bar U.S. citizens and companies from providing the ICC with money, goods, or services without a license from the U.S. Treasury. This cautious approach is often adopted by financial institutions due to their reliance on access to the American financial system.

ICC officials have previously warned that sanctions on the organization as a whole could impede its ability to procure essential services like information technology and insurance, hire investigators, and make routine payments, including salaries for its American employees. The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity when national authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.

The U.S. has not joined the ICC and has previously sanctioned over a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors under an executive order signed in February 2025. In August, the court's President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye were added to this list, with restrictions taking effect on September 17.

Washington's opposition stems from its assertion that the court has exceeded its authority by pursuing officials from non-member states. Relations between the U.S. and the ICC have been particularly strained since the court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel, like the U.S., is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the U.S. has objected to an earlier ICC investigation into alleged abuses in Afghanistan involving American personnel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign in July aimed at further isolating the court.

The International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, Netherlands, has been under increasing pressure from the United States regarding its investigations and the issuance of arrest warrants.

These potential sanctions underscore a deep rift between the U.S. and the international judicial body, raising questions about the future operational capacity of the ICC and its ability to pursue justice in cases involving nationals of non-member states.