Germany stands by International Criminal Court amid mounting U.S. pressure

Germany has declared it will continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague as the United States ramps up pressure on it, Reuters reported.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany, together with its partners, would work to keep the court functioning even under pressure.

The clash between the U.S. and the ICC has escalated in recent years.

President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed sanctions on court officials and taken other steps against it, opposing the ICC’s investigations into American personnel and the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On September 22, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump called on all ICC member states to leave the court.

He harshly criticized the institution and said the U.S. would not allow its citizens to be tried by this court.

Wadephul said the ICC matters for punishing the perpetrators of the gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity — especially in cases where a country’s courts are unable or unwilling to act.

The German minister also tied Berlin’s support to Germany’s history, saying the country knows what happens when state power is placed above the law and human rights.

Germany is the ICC’s second-largest financial contributor after Japan and says it is working with other countries to ensure the court continues its work.

Wadephul visited the ICC headquarters in The Hague today and is expected to hold talks with its leadership.