G7 Nations and Allies Condemn Proposed US Sanctions on International Criminal Court
A coalition of eight major global powers has issued a joint statement strongly condemning the United States’ announcement of upcoming sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom declared their “unwavering support” for the tribunal on Friday.
The rare, coordinated public pushback highlights a deepening diplomatic rift between Washington and its closest traditional allies over global accountability and international law.
The joint declaration follows a recent threat from the U.S. government to penalise ICC officials. In their statement, the eight nations expressed profound disagreement with Washington’s stance, noting that as committed supporters of the ICC, they regret and strongly disagree with the announcement of sanctions to be imposed upon the Court by the United States.
While the coalition praised the Hague-based court for proactively preparing for the restrictions, they warned that the measures would take a heavy toll if enforced. The ministers noted that the restrictions would directly disrupt the daily operations of the court, impacting its dedicated staff and their families who work daily to prosecute the world’s worst atrocities.
The dispute is rooted in the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. The signatory nations, which include a significant portion of the G7, remain unified in their defense of the court’s core mission to protect judicial independence and advance global accountability.
The tension stems from long-standing friction between the U.S., which is not a party to the Rome Statute, and the ICC over the court’s jurisdiction over citizens of non-member states.
Despite this friction, the eight signatory nations affirmed their intention to pursue constructive and inclusive dialogue with non-member states to bridge the divide. The diplomatic showdown arrives at a critical juncture, just months before member nations gather for the high-profile Assembly of States Parties in December 2026. The coalition vowed to spend the intervening months reinforcing the court’s infrastructure to ensure it can continue to investigate international crimes and support victims, regardless of American financial or legal pressure.
