Ed Miliband has criticised Donald Trump after the White House announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Foreign Secretary, in a joint statement with counterparts from seven other countries, said the UK had “unwavering support” for the ICC.
The foreign ministers hit back at the US after Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, announced on Friday a wave of sanctions against the international legal body.
Under the new sanctions, no transactions can move through the US financial system involving money or property tied to the ICC.
Some of the strictest measures have been suspended for six months to give countries a chance to “negotiate and present a solution to address our concerns”.
Mr Trump has previously slammed the ICC as an “out-of-control institution” with an “anti-American tribunal”.
The foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK said: “We… reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC.
“As committed supporters of the ICC, we regret and strongly disagree with the announcement of sanctions to be imposed upon the court by the United States.
Andy Miliband joined seven foreign counterparts in condemning the US sanctions, announced on Friday
|
REUTERS
“If put into effect, these sanctions will have a significant impact on the court’s work, its dedicated staff and their families. They work every day to bring those accused of the most serious international crimes to justice and to support their victims.
“We will continue to work together to support the court’s vital work, uphold the rules-based international system, and advance accountability.”
Mr Rubio, announcing the sanctions in a video address, said: “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.
“We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American service members for their defence, to rein in the court.
Marco Rubio, announcing the sanctions, said ‘either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC’
|
REUTERS
“If they do not, the United States will continue its campaign to dismantle the ICC, brick by brick, until Americans are threatened no longer.”
The White House has already sanctioned nine ICC Judges and four prosecutors because of their involvement in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Netanyahu praised the US after the announcement, saying the international court was a “political body” which threatened “law-abiding democracies worldwide” and the “very idea of national sovereignty”.
Mr Rubio described the international body as a “rogue court”. The US has never accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Navi Pillay, a South African judge who has served on the ICC, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize just hours earlier
|
REUTERS
The announcement of the sanctions came just hours after Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African judge who has served on the ICC, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2025, she led the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which determined Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
After learning she had received the international honour, she said: “Thank you. If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump.”
The President has not been shy about his intentions to receive the prize. Last year’s winner, Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado, handed the physical medal to Mr Trump after he captured Nicolas Maduro.