As Trump Squeezes the International Criminal Court, More Countries Are Leaving
- Amid U.S. pressure, five member states have withdrawn from the International Criminal Court in the past year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a sweeping campaign in July to dismantle what he called a threat to U.S. sovereignty.
- Ruling military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger departed last year, accusing the tribunal of selective justice. The trio called the ICC an "instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism" when announcing their exits.
- Chad withdrew after a July 23 phone call in which U.S. officials requested the country reconsider its membership. Venezuela also recently departed, joining five nations exiting amid Washington's hostility and sanctions against ICC staff.
- ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet expressed regret over the departures, stating the court remains the "court of last resort" for prosecuting serious crimes. The tribunal faces a leadership crisis after ousting its own chief prosecutor.
- Ukraine joined the court in 2025, with ambassador Andriy Kostin stating that "accountability for the gravest crimes cannot be optional." The addition signals commitment to international justice despite broader institutional pressures.
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77 Articles
US campaign and new exits deepen International Criminal Court crisis
The United States is urging countries to leave the International Criminal Court as Venezuela and Chad announce withdrawals. The moves deepen the court's crisis but do not halt ongoing investigations into past alleged crimes.
As Trump squeezes the International Criminal Court, more countries are leaving – WTOP News
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — As the United States ratchets up the pressure on the International Criminal Court, sanctioning two more high-ranking staff members in recent weeks, a small but growing number of the global tribunal’s member states have announced they will quit the institution. The recent departure of Venezuela and Chad brings the number...
As Trump squeezes the International Criminal Court, more countries are
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — As the United States ratchets up the pressure on the International Criminal Court , sanctioning two more high-ranking staff members in recent weeks, a small but growing number of the global tribunal’s
The U.S. offensive against the ICC follows the doctrine put forward by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in July when he confirmed the intention to dismantle the court " brick by brick" because it is "an intolerable threat to U.S. sovereignty."
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