MWE Correspondent
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that the United States will pursue an aggressive campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC), vowing to tear down the institution “brick by brick, if necessary.”
The declaration marks one of Washington’s strongest attacks yet on the Hague-based court, which Rubio and the Trump administration have accused of threatening American sovereignty and exceeding its authority.
Rubio’s remarks were made as the United States intensified diplomatic and economic pressure against the ICC, including sanctions targeting senior officials of the court. The campaign has raised fresh concerns among international legal experts and human rights organisations about the future independence and ability of the court to operate.
The Trump administration has argued that the ICC has no legitimate authority over American citizens because the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court. Washington has also strongly opposed ICC actions involving Israeli officials, with Israel likewise not a member of the court.
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Critics, however, warn that the American campaign could significantly weaken the international justice system. The ICC was established as a court of last resort to prosecute individuals accused of some of the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression.
The confrontation has intensified in recent weeks, with the United States imposing sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, deepening the dispute between Washington and the international tribunal.
Rubio’s “brick by brick” pledge has therefore become more than political rhetoric: critics say the administration is now translating its opposition to the court into concrete diplomatic and financial measures.
The growing standoff has placed the ICC at the centre of a major global debate over national sovereignty, international law and whether powerful states can be held accountable through international institutions.
