EU faces pressure to shield ICC from US sanctions

The Trump administration’s aggressive stance against the Hague-based tribunal marks a shift in its broader campaign to undermine multilateral institutions. Rubio, who labeled the court a corrupt and politicized entity, has escalated tensions by targeting the court’s leadership directly. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the court, some officials argue that rhetoric is insufficient to protect the judiciary from extraterritorial reach.

To counter these sanctions, supporters of the ICC are reviving interest in the bloc’s 1996 regulation. This legislation, originally designed to bypass US pressure, would legally prohibit European banks and companies from complying with American sanctions against the court. Judge Tomoko Akane first formally requested this inclusion during a European Parliament hearing in March 2025, emphasizing that judges require immunity from external financial and travel restrictions to maintain their independence. By adopting this stance, the EU would force its corporate sector to ignore Washington’s directives, setting the stage for a significant diplomatic confrontation over the limits of American influence on international justice.