U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court on July 13, 2026 [1].
The move signals a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and the global legal body. By targeting the ICC, the U.S. government seeks to eliminate a legal mechanism that can investigate and prosecute individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity, regardless of national borders.
Rubio said the International Criminal Court is a threat to U.S. sovereignty and interferes with military and law-enforcement operations [1]. The campaign was announced by the State Department in Washington, D.C., marking a formal effort to undermine the court's authority [2].
This initiative follows a long-standing tension between Washington and the ICC. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court [3]. Because the U.S. has not ratified the statute, it does not recognize the court's jurisdiction over its own citizens or military personnel.
International bodies have responded with concern. A United Nations spokesperson said the International Criminal Court remains a critical cog in the international justice system [3].
Similar opposition came from Europe. A representative from the European Union said attacks or threats against the court are unacceptable [3]. The EU and other allies have historically supported the ICC as a means of ensuring accountability for the world's most serious crimes.
Despite this international pushback, the U.S. State Department is moving forward with its campaign. The effort focuses on the belief that the court's reach over non-member states constitutes an overreach of international law [2].
“"The International Criminal Court is a threat to U.S. sovereignty"”
The campaign to dismantle the ICC represents a shift toward unilateralism in U.S. foreign policy. By challenging the legitimacy of the court, the U.S. is attempting to ensure that its military and intelligence personnel remain exempt from international legal scrutiny, potentially creating a diplomatic rift with the European Union and the United Nations.
