Trump urges countries to exit icc at UN assembly

Donald Trump has urged member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw, calling it 'out of control' during his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, by targeting its judges with sanctions and pressuring member nations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump's sentiments, vowing to dismantle the court and branding it an 'intolerable threat to American sovereignty'. Washington's measures have included sanctioning ICC officials, particularly following an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a key US ally.

Established in 1998 and operational since 2002, the ICC is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Although the United States signed the Rome Statute, it has never ratified it, and neither Israel nor Russia are ICC members.

Mame Mandiaye Niang, an official linked to the ICC, noted that the US's aggressive stance arises from a misunderstanding of the court's role and operations. This ongoing tension highlights the complex relationship between the US and the ICC, as the court persists in its mission to address severe international crimes.