US presses NATO allies to quit ICC and cut court funding

September 10, 2026 at 03:33 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker demanded in July that allies withdraw from the Rome Statute and abandon the International Criminal Court. Washington also urged delegations to publicly condemn the ICC and halt financial support. The move came as the State Department sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye on August 18.

Key Facts

US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker made the demand at a closed meeting of alliance ambassadors in July.
The US mission sent a letter urging other delegations to analyze the threat posed by the court and to publicly condemn the ICC for overreach.
The Netherlands and France defended the ICC, according to Politico.
On August 18, the State Department announced sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye.

US Pressure Campaign

Matthew Whitaker, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, demanded at a closed July meeting that allies withdraw from the Rome Statute and abandon the International Criminal Court. Politico reported that the US is trying to enlist allies in a campaign to systematically dismantle the court. Whitaker said the US would closely monitor which countries provided support, according to diplomats cited by the publication. The US mission also sent a letter to other delegations urging them to analyze the threat from the court and to publicly condemn the ICC for overreach.

Allied Reactions and Sanctions

The Netherlands and France spoke in defense of the ICC, Politico reported. The situation around the court complicates already difficult US relations with Europe, the outlet noted. On August 18, the State Department announced sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye. The current US administration has imposed sanctions on the court several times, accusing the ICC of wrongful actions against Washington and its allies such as Israel.