US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has given a very strong statement against the International Criminal Court (ICC). He said that America will destroy ICC by uprooting every brick. He has also appealed to other countries of the world to support America in this campaign. This is considered to be the most aggressive stance of the Trump administration so far. Marco Rubio said that the ICC is not fighting a war against America with bullets and missiles, but in the name of international law. They allege that this court is going beyond its authority and targeting America and its allied countries.
The dispute between America and ICC is many years old. During Donald Trump’s first term, the ICC tried to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes against American soldiers in Afghanistan. Since then America has been opposing this court. Even during Trump’s second term, America imposed sanctions on many ICC officials, because the court was investigating cases related to America and Israel.
Threat to countries that do not cooperate
Now America has started a bigger campaign against ICC. According to CNN report, the US State Ministry, along with the entire government, is contacting different countries of the world. America wants other countries to leave ICC and stand against it. The US has also indicated that countries that continue to support the ICC and also continue to receive financial or other assistance from the US may face American scrutiny and pressure.
Marco Rubio said in an article written in The Wall Street Journal that America will use every means at its disposal. He wrote that if necessary, the ICC will be destroyed brick by brick in collaboration with the allied countries.
How will US weaken ICC?
A US State Department official said that this campaign may also include steps like canceling visas, banning travel and imposing economic sanctions. Rubio, his deputy and US ambassadors around the world are talking to various governments to diplomatically isolate the ICC. America is appealing to ICC member countries to leave the court and stop financial aid to it. America is also demanding support from countries which are not members of ICC in this campaign.
In his article, Rubio also alleged that the ICC is influenced by some leftist non-governmental organizations (NGOs), global groups and some developing countries, which work against America. He also rejected allegations of violations of international law regarding sending people to El Salvador, US naval strikes on alleged narco-terrorists and US actions in Iran. However, he admitted that ICC can try to investigate further in these cases also.
Also read: US-Iran war: 14 American soldiers killed so far, 414 injured
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