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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. / Reuters-Yonhap

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing sweeping financial sanctions against the International Criminal Court, or ICC, in response to the court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 20 local time.

According to internal documents obtained by the WSJ and U.S. government officials, the proposed sanctions would prohibit most financial transactions with the ICC after a grace period of six to seven months.

Some transactions, including those related to telecommunications services, would be exempt. If implemented, however, the measures are expected to block the ICC from conducting transactions in U.S. dollars and restrict its access to the international financial system.

The timing of the final announcement has not been decided, but some officials said the sanctions could be formally unveiled during this week’s U.N. General Assembly or shortly afterward.

The U.S. State Department declined to confirm whether the sanctions were being prepared, but reiterated concerns previously raised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio over what he described as ICC encroachment on U.S. sovereignty.

Rubio said in July that ICC actions targeting leaders of non-member states set a dangerous precedent and posed a threat to U.S. sovereignty, signaling that Washington could take a tougher stance.

Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a full member of the ICC.

The Trump administration has already imposed sanctions in stages on individual ICC officials, including President Tomoko Akane, judges and prosecutors, as well as former chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who stepped down in July amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The latest measures under consideration would significantly broaden the scope of sanctions by targeting the ICC as an institution rather than specific individuals.

Major ICC signatories, including the European Union and Japan, have maintained their support for the court’s continued operations.

If the U.S. sanctions are implemented, legal and diplomatic responses from the international community are expected, including debate over whether financial institutions in the EU can continue supporting the ICC.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun