The European Union has rejected the Trump administration's assertion that the International Criminal Court poses a threat to US sovereignty, a day after Washington vowed to 'systematically disable' the tribunal.
Key facts
- An EU spokesperson rejected Trump administration claims that the ICC threatens US sovereignty.
- The US government said it would work to 'systematically disable' the tribunal.
- EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the bloc 'stands firm' in support of the ICC.
- The ICC seeks to prosecute some of the world's gravest crimes.
- The comments were reported by The Guardian on 14 July 2026.
The European Union has publicly rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the International Criminal Court (ICC) poses a threat to US sovereignty, according to The Guardian. The response came a day after the US government said it would work to ‘systematically disable’ the Hague-based tribunal, which seeks to prosecute some of the world’s gravest crimes.
‘We stand firm in our support for the international criminal court (ICC),’ an EU spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, said on Tuesday, as reported by The Guardian.
El Anouni added that ‘attacks or threats against the court-elected officials, personnel or those cooperating with the court are simply not acceptable,’ underscoring the bloc’s continued backing of the institution.
The exchange highlights a widening rift between Washington and its European partners over the role and legitimacy of the international tribunal. The US government’s stated intention to ‘systematically disable’ the court marks a significant escalation in its stance toward the institution.
The ICC, based in The Hague, is tasked with prosecuting individuals for the most serious international crimes. The Guardian reported the developments on 14 July 2026.
Why it matters
The dispute reflects a deepening divide between the United States and the European Union over international justice institutions. How major powers treat the ICC has implications for global accountability efforts and for the court's ability to pursue prosecutions of grave crimes.
Frequently asked questions
What did the EU say about the ICC?
An EU spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, said the bloc 'stands firm' in its support for the International Criminal Court and that attacks or threats against the court's officials, personnel or those cooperating with it are 'simply not acceptable.'
What did the Trump administration say about the ICC?
According to The Guardian, the US government said it would work to 'systematically disable' the Hague-based tribunal and asserted that the court poses a threat to US sovereignty.
What does the ICC do?
The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, seeks to prosecute some of the world's gravest crimes, according to The Guardian.