Rubio announced on Tuesday that sanctions had been imposed on ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal.
“These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,” Rubio said in a statement.
The ICC condemned the sanctions, saying they undermine the rule of law and will not prevent the court from carrying out its mandate.
“The Court remains undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel and behind victims of unimaginable atrocities,” the ICC said.
It added that it would continue to operate independently and impartially in accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interests of victims of international crimes.
The latest sanctions are part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against the ICC over its efforts to investigate officials from the United States and Israel, neither of which is a member of the court.
President Donald Trump has criticized the ICC since his first term in office. His administration previously targeted the court after it sought to investigate alleged war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan.
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for several officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
Last month, Rubio announced a major escalation in the US campaign, describing it as a State Department-led, “whole-of-government campaign” aimed at dismantling the ICC.
Washington has urged other countries to join the campaign and warned that countries that refuse could face increased scrutiny.
Rubio said he expected more countries to join the United States by ending their funding and participation in the court.
“The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end,” he said, adding that the Trump administration was prepared to take further measures to systematically dismantle the court.
A US official said countries that cooperate with US law enforcement, host US military forces or benefit from the broader US security umbrella were being urged to reject the ICC’s authority to prosecute American officials and military personnel.
The pressure campaign has already been followed by decisions from some countries to withdraw from the ICC.
In late July, Venezuela’s interim government announced that it would withdraw from the court. Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia said Venezuela had informed the United Nations of its “firm and irrevocable decision” to leave the ICC.
He accused the court of showing geographical bias by focusing on countries in Africa and Latin America.
The US State Department welcomed Venezuela’s decision, criticizing the ICC for investigating Venezuelan officials, including Nicolás Maduro, since 2018.
Chad also announced its decision to withdraw from the ICC in late July, following the launch of the US campaign.
The ICC’s Assembly of States Parties expressed concern over the withdrawals, warning that they could undermine international efforts to pursue justice and weaken global efforts to end impunity.
