In a move that underscores Washington’s unwavering support for its allies and its longstanding resistance to international legal scrutiny, former US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a move that sparked outrage in Washington.

Trump’s executive order declares that the ICC’s actions “set a dangerous precedent” by subjecting Americans and allied nations to potential prosecution, which the US government views as an infringement on its sovereignty and national security interests. The order imposes financial and visa-related sanctions on individuals and organizations that support ICC investigations against US citizens or its allies.

This latest measure reinforces Washington’s long-standing opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction over nations that are not signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court. The United States and Israel have never ratified the treaty, making the ICC’s move against Israeli leaders especially contentious in Washington’s eyes.

The new sanctions are expected to severely impact the ICC’s operations. According to sources cited by The Guardian, the measures could restrict the court’s access to banking and payment systems, insurance providers, and IT infrastructure. Some experts have warned that the sanctions could paralyze the court and pose an existential threat to its functioning.

The US House of Representatives has also moved to enforce restrictions on ICC officials involved in cases against the........

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