US launches campaign against International Criminal Court

The United States on Monday launched a sweeping campaign to “dismantle the threat” posed by the International Criminal Court to U.S. sovereignty.

The actions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, will feature “a whole-of-government response” to disable the ICC’s ability to target American servicemen or officials.

Rubio declared that the ICC presents “an intolerable threat” by claiming the authority to prosecute and imprison American servicemen and officials operating on behalf of U.S. national interests.

“Americans never signed up for this,” the top diplomat noted. “All American presidents since the ICC’s ratification have maintained that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Americans.”

The Trump Administration recalled that the ICC previously opened an investigation into American servicemembers and intelligence officers and has since refused to close the cases.

Washington says the ICC seeks to become the unaccountable global arbiter and a supranational enforcement arm of a globalist bureaucracy empowered to persecute U.S. servicemen and officials at will.

The anti-ICC actions, as listed by Rubio, include liaison with the global community to point out the ICC’s abuses and the risks posed to Americans and other nationals, while urging countries to exit the Court.

The U.S. will urge countries — that partner with its law enforcement and military or that enjoy its security umbrella — to reject the ICC’s “purported authority” to prosecute American officials and servicemen.

Washington will effect visa revocations and travel bans for ICC personnel, increase sanctions against the ICC and affiliated organizations, and scrutinize nations supporting the ICC while relying on U.S. assistance.