(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
The US’s latest sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye aren’t just about sovereignty. They’re a direct shot at the court’s ability to hold powerful allies accountable. Marco Rubio calls the ICC “corrupt and fatally politicized.” But the timing tells a different story. This move comes months after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024.
Rubio’s official line is clear: the ICC oversteps its authority by targeting nationals of non-ratifying countries like the US and Israel. He points to past probes into US military actions in Afghanistan as proof. But the real trigger here is the Netanyahu warrant. Seye was part of the prosecution team for that case. Israeli outlet Ynet reported he’s also overseeing an ICC investigation into West Bank settlement funding and settler weapons supplies. Trump’s February 2025 executive order condemning the Netanyahu warrant ties the US’s actions directly to protecting its ally.
The ICC says the sanctions are an attack on judicial independence. But the court has faced criticism before. Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad withdrew this year, citing a focus on Africa. The Philippines left in 2019, but the ICC still arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2025. Russia rejected an ICC warrant for Putin in 2023. Yet the US’s move is unique—it’s not just withdrawing or ignoring the court. It’s actively trying to dismantle it. Netanyahu praised the sanctions, calling the ICC a “kangaroo court.”
This move will shift the geopolitical pendulum. Powerful nations will now see that sanctioning international courts is a viable way to shield their leaders. The ICC’s credibility will erode further. Smaller countries will lose faith in a system that can’t hold the strong to account. We’re moving toward a world where impunity for powerful leaders becomes the rule, not the exception.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European dailies, focuses on global judicial governance and geopolitical power dynamics.