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Trump meets ICC! Sanctions against female judges for investigations
US government imposes sanctions on four female ICC judges. Trump criticizes their investigations into US soldiers and Israel.
Trump meets ICC! Sanctions against female judges for investigations
On June 5, 2025, the US government under President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision comes amid investigations launched by the ICC against US soldiers in Afghanistan and against high-ranking Israeli politicians. The sanctions include freezing assets and prohibiting US citizens and US companies from doing business with the judges affected.
The specifically sanctioned judges are Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin and Beti Hohler from Slovenia. Leading US politicians, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have supported the sanctions and are calling for an end to the ICC proceedings against the US and Israel. President Trump has justified his move by arguing that the Court is abusing its vested power by issuing unfounded arrest warrants.
Background of the sanctions
The ICC, which has been responsible for prosecuting the most serious crimes, including genocide and war crimes, since 2002, issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Joav Galant in November 2024. However, Trump expresses serious concerns about the jurisdiction of the ICC and the ongoing investigations against US personnel.
In addition to the sanctions against the judges, Trump also bases his tough measures on the arrest warrants previously issued against Netanyahu, which he sees as politically motivated and immoral. Critics, including EU Council President António Costa, warn that these sanctions could endanger the independence of the ICC.
Political reactions
Reactions to the sanctions are divided. While Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the American measures and criticized the Court for its actions, European politicians expressed concerns. It is pointed out that Germany, as a contracting state to the ICC, would theoretically be obliged to implement the arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he visited the Federal Republic.
The latest sanctions follow the same political course that Trump took in his first term in office. Sanctions that he imposed on the ICC at the time were lifted by his successor Joe Biden in 2021. Last year, a bill to sanction the ICC failed in the US Congress, further illustrating the complex political and legal entanglements surrounding the Court.
In summary, the current case shows how tense the relationship between the USA and the ICC is, especially with regard to their proceedings against US citizens and close allies such as Israel. The ICC remains a controversial topic in international jurisprudence, with the USA, Israel and Russia playing a special role as non-contracting states.