Trump urges nations to abandon ICC, only tiny Pacific state complies

During a UN General Assembly session, Donald Trump denounced the International Criminal Court as a rogue and evil body, urging all member states to abandon it at once. The United States has escalated its campaign against the Hague court, imposing financial sanctions and visa bans on its staff and preparing further measures that could cripple its operations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has framed the effort as dismantling the ICC brick by brick, citing threats to U.S. service members and migrants.

To date, only Naoero, a small Pacific island, has announced a formal withdrawal from the Rome Statute, while Venezuela, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have also indicated plans to leave. The European Union and Japan have rallied to defend the court, with EU officials discussing a blocking statute and Japan’s prime minister reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law. Analysts note that the limited uptake of the U.S. push underscores the ICC’s continued relevance for many countries despite Washington’s pressure.