ICC leaders condemn efforts to erode international legal order

The current and former heads of the ICC’s governing body say pressure on the court threatens international law, as Washington widens sanctions and retreats from multilateral institutions.Published On 4 Sep 20264 Sep 2026The current and former presidents of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) governing body have said that efforts to isolate the institution diplomatically are aimed at eroding confidence in the international legal ⁠order, as US President Donald Trump’s administration has pressured countries to isolate the ICC.“Efforts to isolate the Court diplomatically – whether by encouraging States Parties to withdraw from the Rome Statute or urging non-States Parties to join measures ⁠intended to weaken it – are aimed at eroding not only one institution, but confidence in the international legal order itself,” Paivi Kaukoranta, the current president of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties, and seven former presidents said in a joint op-ed published on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4ICC condemns US sanctions as ‘flagrant attack’ on court’s independencelist 2 of 4US sanctions International Criminal Court president and trial lawyerlist 3 of 4Could US sanc...