US President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court on Friday (October 9), hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies.

The Trump administration has long been hostile to the court and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges. Friday's move would go far further, by potentially punishing companies that provide services to the court itself.

"President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement reviewed by Reuters ahead of the official announcement.

"That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court. We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate."

Washington has long been angry over ICC arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and over a past investigation into actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan which the ICC has since closed.

The court, founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, counts 125 countries as member states, including all EU countries and all members of the NATO alliance apart from the United States and Turkey.

It has received strong public backing in the past from member countries including major US allies, and is based in the Netherlands, an EU and NATO member.

Navi Pillay, the South African jurist who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her work in international criminal justice, served as a judge on the ICC's Appeals Chamber from 2003-2008. In its citation, the prize committee said it had sought to "issue a reminder" at a time when "judges and institutions of international law are under political attack."

"An international legal system in which war criminals are held to account and the victims of abuse see justice served is a precondition for a peaceful world," the committee said.

In his statement, Rubio said the United States had delayed its sanctions hoping that the ICC and the countries party to its founding Rome Statute would address US concerns, but they had failed to do so.

US sanctions typically bar all US-based companies from any work with a sanctioned organization, forcing banks to shut accounts, insurers to end coverage and software companies to halt cooperation.

The Trump administration previously imposed targeted sanctions on court officials during his first term, which were rescinded under President Joe Biden. Washington announced new sanctions just days after Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Court officials have been preparing for months for the prospect of sanctions on the court itself, shifting office computers from Microsoft software to open source equivalents and making new arrangements for banking and health insurance.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (ARCHIVE - NOVEMBER 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. MEDIA IN FRONT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

2. SIGN READING (English): “INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT”

EXTERIORS OF ICC

3. MEDIA IN FRONT OF ICC

4. ICC FLAG WOMAN BEING INTERVIEWED

5. ICC EXTERIOR AT SUNSET

NUREMBERG, GERMANY (OCTOBER 9, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

6. WOMAN EMBRACING 2026 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER AND FORMER INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE NAVI PILLAY

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, NAVI PILLAY, SAYING:

“Well, I'm surprised and deeply honored, and I hope it inspires me to continue fighting for justice. Thank you."

8. PILLAY WALKING OFF

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 9, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

9. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT DEPUTY PROSECUTOR SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION, NAZHAT SHAMEEM KHAN, DURING INTERVIEW

10. KHAN SPEAKING

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 9, 2026) (US NETWORK POOL – No use USA)

11. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO WITH 2015 VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT DINORAH FIGUERA

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (ARCHIVE) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. EXTERIOR OF STATE DEPARTMENT

13. SIGN READING (English) “DEPARTMENT OF STATES

UNITED NATIONS (ARCHIVE - SEPTEMBER 24, 2026) (UNTV – Access all)

14. ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AT PODIUM ADDRESSING UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

15. NETANYAHU SPEAKING

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (ARCHIVE - APRIL 11, 2011) (REUTERS - Access all)

16. U.S. FORCES ON PATROL

17. U.S. SERVICE MEMBER FIRING WEAPON

18. U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS DUCKING BEHIND WALL AFTER FIRING MORTAR

19. U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS CLIMBING OVER WALL

20. U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WALKING PAST ANOTHER SERVCE MEMBER