Eight countries reaffirm support for ICC after US sanctions announcement

Britain, Canada and six other countries rejected the United States’ announcement of sanctions against the International Criminal Court in a joint statement published on October 9.

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands. All eight countries are parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty governing the ICC. They reaffirmed support for the court’s independence, impartiality and integrity.

The ministers said the restrictions, if implemented, would significantly affect the court’s operations and the people who work there. They also acknowledged the preparations the ICC had made to continue carrying out its mandate despite the measures.

The Trump administration announced sanctions against the court as an institution on October 9, extending a campaign that had previously targeted individual officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked the action to US objections to the court’s activities, including its pursuit of American citizens.

The signatories said they would continue working together to support the ICC and engage with countries outside the Rome Statute. They linked that dialogue to preparations for the Assembly of States Parties in December 2026.