Washington prepares to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution
Al Jazeera and The Times of India, both using Sunday reporting, said the United States is preparing measures that would treat the International Criminal Court as a sanctioned institution, cutting most of its dollar transactions unless the Treasury licensed them. No decision has been announced.
Geopolitics··Morning
An institution, not a short list of judges
Al Jazeera on 21 September said the plan would target the Hague court as an institution rather than individual judges. It cited Reuters quoting two people familiar with the matter who said an announcement could come soon, and the Journal saying a decision could be finalised during this week's UN General Assembly in New York or shortly after. The measures would generally bar US persons from providing money, goods or services to the ICC without a Treasury licence.[1]
Dollar clearing and the UN week
The Times of India relayed the same Sunday Journal report: the measures could restrict most of the tribunal's financial transactions and cut it off from dollar clearing. A State Department spokesperson pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's view that the court threatens US sovereignty. Existing US measures have already targeted named ICC officials, including former chief prosecutor Karim Khan and ICC President Tomoko Akane.[2]
What the court says is at risk
Al Jazeera recalled warnings from the ICC president and registrar that organisation-wide sanctions could hit IT, insurance and routine payments. No decision has been announced. The Times of India account still treats the package as something that could be finalised this week, not as a signed order.[1], [2]
