The president of the United States, Donald Trumpwill sign a Executive order to sanction to the International Criminal Court (CPI) for their actions against the United States and its allies, such as IsraelA White House official confirmed to Efe. According to the official agenda, Trump plans to sign several executive orders at 14.30 local time (19.30 GMT).
The content of these orders has not been revealed, but a White House official advanced Efe that one of them will impose sanctions to the ICC. Specifically, the order seeks to impose financial restrictions and restrict the obtaining of visas to travel to the United States to individuals of the ICC who collaborate in court investigations against US citizens or allies of Washington.
Democratic block
Trump’s measure occurs after the United States Senate Democrats blocked last week led by Republicans to sanction the ICC in protest arrest orders against Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuand its former Minister of Defense Yoav they can for Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu is currently visiting Washington. The ICC did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
The Court has taken measures to protect personnel from possible US sanctions, paying salaries three months in advance, while preparing for financial restrictions that could paralyze the war crimes court, sources told Reuters last month.
CPI threat
In December, the president of the Court, Judge Tomoko Akane warned that the sanctions “would quickly undermine court operations in all situations and cases, and would endanger their own existence.”
This is the second time that the Court faces US reprisals as a result of its work. During the first Trump administration in 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on the then prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of his main advisors for the investigation of the ICC on alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan.
Permanent Court
The CPI, composed of 125 members, is a permanent court that can process individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of the Member States or by their nationals. The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members.
The signature of this executive order arrives after Trump’s meeting on Tuesday with Israeli prime minister, Benjamín Netanyahu, whom in November the CPI pointed out with an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and against humanity in the Gaza Strip .
Netanyahu has held meetings in Washington with important figures of Congress and the Government, including Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. In 2020, during his first term (2017-2021), Trump already imposed sanctions against the then prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, and one of his main advisors due to an investigation by the court on alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan.
