The court has already replaced major technology and financial providers, but officials fear the next restrictions could disrupt its daily operations.
The Netherlands is preparing for possible new sanctions by the United States against the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Diplomatic sources say that the U.S. restrictions could be announced soon.
This is reported by Associated Press (AP).
The sanctions are likely to target financial and IT services. This could complicate the payment of court employees’ salaries and create problems for its day-to-day operations.
Dutch authorities are already considering ways to ensure the ICC continues to operate without interruption. Their priorities include paying salaries, protecting witnesses, and maintaining the detention center.
ICC prepares for possible restrictions
Two sources familiar with the situation said U.S. officials had warned the Netherlands that sanctions could be imposed as early as next Monday. According to the sources, Washington also urged the country hosting the court to withdraw from the institution.
At the same time, other U.S. officials said sanctions could indeed be imposed, but their scope and specific content had not yet been determined. They also do not expect restrictions to be announced this week.
The International Criminal Court has been preparing for possible sanctions for several months. The institution stopped using Microsoft products and switched to software from a German provider. The court also replaced its insurance and other financial companies with providers that do not operate in the United States.
The Netherlands and ICC representatives hope to secure a six-month transition period. During that time, the court could end cooperation with U.S. companies that might face significant fines for violating the sanctions.
EU has limited options for supporting the court
The Netherlands and the European Union have few tools to protect the ICC from U.S. restrictions. The EU could invoke its blocking statute, which prohibits European companies from complying with certain U.S. sanctions.
However, it is currently unclear whether this mechanism would apply directly to the International Criminal Court. The ICC is an international institution, not a European one.
The United States has already imposed sanctions on more than ten current and former court officials, including half of its sitting judges. Washington opposes the ICC’s activities because of its arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials and its investigation into the actions of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute.
In recent months, several ICC member states have announced their intention to withdraw from the institution. They include Venezuela and Chad, which directly linked its decision to the United States’ position on the court.