US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the ICC's actions threaten US sovereignty, calling the court's claimed jurisdiction 'a severe overreach' that would mean the end of the US as a sovereign nation. A State Department official told Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) that the administration is considering a broad range of measures, including entry bans, visa cancellations, expanded sanctions, and a diplomatic campaign to persuade ICC member states to withdraw.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio escalated the confrontation with the International Criminal Court on Monday evening, declaring that the court's claim of jurisdiction over American citizens and military personnel is 'a severe overreach' that would mean 'the end of the United States as a sovereign nation.' A State Department official told Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) that the administration is now considering a broad range of measures, including entry bans, visa cancellations, expanded sanctions against the ICC and affiliated organizations, and a diplomatic campaign to pressure member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute. The official said the goal is to 'diplomatically isolate the court.'
This latest declaration follows a rapid series of warnings from Rubio earlier Monday evening. At 18:03 Jerusalem, Rubio first posted a video warning the ICC against arresting or investigating American citizens, then declared a campaign against the court, and then issued the exact quote: 'We will teach you the full meaning of American determination.' The new statement, reported around 20:00 Jerusalem, adds specific punitive measures and frames the dispute as a matter of national sovereignty.
The United States has long rejected the ICC's jurisdiction over its nationals. As The Zioneer reported on July 3, Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a formal letter to the ICC in early July refusing cooperation and rejecting the court's authority. The administration's current push signals a significant escalation in Washington's campaign against the court.
The specific timeline for implementing the contemplated measures—entry bans, visa cancellations, and expanded sanctions—has not been detailed, and it remains unclear whether the ICC will respond to the American ultimatum.
6 developments
- StrongUS vows to end International Criminal Court's 'threat' to Americans
- StrongUS Attorney General Todd Blanche sends formal letter to ICC, rejecting jurisdiction and refusing cooperation
- StrongUS imposes sanctions on 8 individuals, 6 companies linked to Iran
- DevelopingTrump administration launches largest-ever denaturalization effort, CBS reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake