Washington, Oct. 10 (Jiji Press)–The latest U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court may drive a further wedge between the country and the camp of Japan and Europe over international order. On Friday, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump added the court, based in The Hague, the Netherlands, to its sanctions list, after it took a similar move against ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan in August. Japan and major European nations were quick to respond with a joint statement reiterating their support for the ICC and vowing to “uphold the rules-based international system,” showing a contrasting stance to the U.S. side, which has called the court a “threat to American sovereignty” and has advocated to dismantle it. In a statement issued Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American service members for their defense, to rein in the court.” Rubio therefore effectively requested countries such as Japan and NATO members to cooperate for the U.S. sanctions against the ICC. At a U.N. General Assembly session last month, Trump said, “I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately.” A 180-day grace period was set for some of the sanctions. Although the U.S. government has not publicly announced conditions for lifting the sanctions, Trump said, “We will never allow U.S. service members or anyone else to be investigated, or given show trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us or an evil group of people.” The ICC, which upholds independence and impartiality, will unlikely bend to the U.S. pressure. If sanctions are fully introduced, the ICC may struggle to survive, with Japan and European nations that have voiced support for the court possibly being put in a tricky position given their ties with the United States. The heavy-handed approach against the ICC by the United States, which is not a member of the court, reflects its worries about U.S. troops being prosecuted for war crimes. This was the major reason for the administration of then U.S. President Bill Clinton not to ratify a treaty on the establishment of the ICC back in 2000 although is signed the pact. Showing a similar stance, Rubio said in his statement, “For decades, Republicans and Democrats alike rejected the idea that the ICC had the power to prosecute American citizens, military service members, or political leaders.” Trump has focused on prioritizing his country’s own interests over international cooperation. Viewing the ICC as a symbol of globalism, his administration has continued to attack the court. The recent moves by the U.S. side also reflect drops in Trump’s own public support rates and the struggles of the Republican Party less than a month before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, due to higher gasoline prices caused by U.S. military attacks on Iran. By vowing to protect the United States from an international institution, Trump is believed to be aiming to rally voter support for him. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
