Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has criticised the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and their families. Announced last week under the Trump administration, the measures freeze any US-based assets of designated ICC staff and bar them from entering the country.
Berendsen called the move “deeply regrettable,” emphasizing that the Netherlands remains a staunch supporter of the ICC’s independent role in holding individuals accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. “Undermining the court’s authority only weakens international justice,” he warned, urging Washington to reverse course and return to “constructive dialogue” with The Hague-based institution.
The sanctions target 30 ICC personnel and family members, accusing the court of overreach in its investigations into alleged US and allied forces’ conduct in Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the action as necessary to protect American soldiers from an “overzealous” tribunal, but critics argue it sets a dangerous precedent of politicising justice.
In The Hague, diplomatic pressure is mounting. A coalition of 36 ICC member states has formally protested the sanctions, demanding they be lifted. Dutch Prime Minister Marieke Dijksma—who previously pledged her government’s “full support” for the court—backed Berendsen’s stance, saying the United States’ approach threatens not only the ICC but also the broader framework of international law.
A number of African nations, currently under ICC investigation for alleged human rights abuses, have also condemned the US measures as an attack on multilateral institutions. Observers warn that continued friction between the world’s foremost military power and the foremost war crimes tribunal could erode confidence in global justice mechanisms.
For now, the Netherlands and its allies hope the incoming US administration will reconsider the sanctions and reaffirm its commitment to upholding the rule of law internationally.
