Nigeria, UK, Denmark, France, 75 Other Nations Condemn Trump’s ICC Sanctions

A coalition of 79 countries, including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and France, has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose sanctions on individuals associated with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Trump, who has long opposed the ICC, accused the court of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions” against the United States and its ally, Israel. In response, he enacted financial and visa restrictions targeting individuals and their families who assisted in ICC investigations related to American citizens. The former president also criticized the court for what he described as a “shameful moral equivalency” between Hamas and Israel, referencing the simultaneous issuance of an arrest warrant for a Hamas commander.

ICC President Tomoko Akane condemned Trump’s sanctions, stating that they threatened the court’s independence and denied justice to millions of victims of atrocities. She called on ICC member states, civil society, and the international community to stand in defense of the institution.

Shortly after her statement, 79 countries reaffirmed their support for the ICC in a joint declaration, emphasizing their commitment to upholding the court’s independence and integrity. The statement underscored their determination to ensure the ICC continues its work without external interference.

Among the signatories were nations from Africa, Europe, and Asia, including Ghana, Switzerland, Gambia, South Africa, Poland, Spain, Namibia, Luxembourg, Jordan, and Mexico. The United States and Israel, however, remain outside the ICC’s jurisdiction as non-member states.