The United States on Friday, October 9, 2026, announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), barring transactions with the tribunal and cutting it off from US financial services, technology companies and the US dollar. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the ICC sanctions in a video address, saying: “We will ban transactions with this rogue court.”
US companies and individuals with business ties to the court have six months to wind them down, according to an Associated Press report published by Fortune. The measures are described as part of a campaign to dismantle the court over its investigations involving the US and its allies, including Israel.
What Do the US Sanctions on the ICC Do?
As reported, the sanctions prohibit transactions with the court, deny it access to US-based financial and technology services, and bar the use of US dollars. Rubio said the US and its citizens are not subject to the court’s jurisdiction and urged allies to join the measures, warning that otherwise the US will continue dismantling the court “piece by piece.” The report did not detail the legal instrument used, name any sanctioned individuals, or estimate the financial impact on the court.
The announcement came after the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge, the report noted.
How Have the ICC and Other Countries Responded?
The ICC called the move an attack on the rule of law and an attempt to obstruct justice. ICC President Tomoko Akane said the court will continue carrying out its mandate and appealed to member states for support. Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas urged states to resist the measures.
Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom expressed strong disagreement in a joint statement and pledged to support the court. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, whose country hosts the court in The Hague, called the EU “blocking statute” a “nuclear option” and said the Netherlands is talking to the European Commission so it can be enacted quickly if needed. The report did not say whether the statute has been activated.
Market and Trade Reaction
No market reaction was reported. The measures are likely to matter for banks, technology providers and law firms that deal with the court, as they must end business within six months. No reaction from the Indian government was found in the reports reviewed.
What Happens Next?
The six-month wind-down period runs to roughly April 2027. Watch for a decision by the EU on the blocking statute, further statements from ICC member states and any additional US designations. The report also noted that Venezuela and Chad have withdrawn from the court this year and that Nauru has announced it will quit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the US announce against the ICC?
The US announced sanctions that bar transactions with the court and cut it off from US financial services, technology firms and the dollar, with a six-month wind-down for US entities.
Who announced the sanctions?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced them in a video address on October 9, 2026.
Which countries have criticised the move?
Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the UK issued a joint statement of strong disagreement and pledged to support the court.
Source: Associated Press report (Fortune, October 9, 2026).
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