Washington Pressures NATO Allies to Dismantle International Criminal Court

The United States is pressuring its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to join a campaign aimed at systematically dismantling the International Criminal Court, a move that could heighten tensions within the Western alliance and deepen transatlantic rifts over the role of international institutions and rules.

During a closed-door meeting of NATO member states—32 countries—held in Brussels mid-July, U.S. envoy Matthew Wittaker urged allied nations to take steps toward withdrawing from the Rome Statute, the foundational treaty of the International Criminal Court, according to three diplomatic sources within the alliance.

According to the sources, Wittaker concluded his remarks with a direct message to allies, stating, "Washington will closely monitor those who stand with America."

Concurrently, the U.S. mission to NATO distributed a document to delegations calling on member states to take immediate action to withdraw from the court, affirming that the United States intends to "systematically dismantle the court's capabilities."

Washington also urged its allies to assess what it views as a threat posed by the court to their countries, condemn what it describes as overreach of its jurisdiction, and halt any financial support provided to it.

Disagreement Over Sovereignty and International Law

The U.S. campaign is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration against several international institutions that Washington sees as potentially limiting U.S. freedom of action.

In July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched an attack on the court, accusing it of interfering in American sovereignty. He claimed the court and its allies are waging a legal war against the United States through treaties and what he described as a purported international law.

The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of committing the most serious international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

In 2020, the court opened an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, before re-prioritizing its investigations the following year. Since then, the court has faced calls to investigate U.S. attacks on vessels linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean region.

Divisions Within NATO

The U.S. pressure comes at a sensitive moment for NATO, amid growing disagreements between Washington and several European allies over security and political issues.

According to diplomatic sources, Wittaker’s call for withdrawal from the court drew negative reactions during the meeting, with France and the Netherlands defending the court and expressing opposition to the U.S. stance.

France reaffirmed its firm commitment to supporting the International Criminal Court, while the Netherlands emphasized its full backing of the court, which is headquartered in The Hague.

The majority of NATO members are parties to the International Criminal Court, with the exception of the United States and Turkey, making any collective move against it a highly sensitive issue within the alliance.

Washington has also raised the pressure, vowing greater scrutiny of countries that resist abandoning the court, while imposing sanctions last month on senior officials in such nations, including Chief Prosecutor Tomoko Akane.

In response, the court affirmed it will continue carrying out its duties independently and impartially under the Rome Statute, despite efforts to obstruct its work.

This confrontation reflects a new dimension of rising tension between the United States and some of its European allies, as Washington seeks to redefine NATO roles and burden-sharing, under a framework known as "NATO 3.0".