German foreign minister rallies behind ICC amid Trump threats

Supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) is part of Germany’s “historic responsibility,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday as he visited The Hague, vowing continued backing for the international court amid increased pressure from the US.

“Germany will do its part to ensure that the ICC remains able to act even under pressure,” Wadephul said in The Hague, where he visited the court alongside Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen.

The pair’s visit to the seat of the ICC comes as the United States has stepped up its attacks on the court, which has been responsible for prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity since 2002.

Wadephul and Berendsen vowed to take all measures to protect the ICC from further sanctions, with the German foreign minister noting that this includes the EU Blocking Statute.

This legal instrument was revived in 2018 in response to US sanctions on Iran to protect European companies and citizens from the economic consequences. Berendsen on Monday referred to the “nuclear option,” which he said could be deployed quickly in an emergency.

Various measures have been prepared, Wadephul said, adding: “We will ensure the court remains operational.”

International rules are only as strong as the willingness to stand up for them, Germany’s top diplomat warned. “Particularly at a time when international institutions are increasingly being called into question, we must stand firmly by their side, together with our partners around the world.”

Wadephul also pointed to Germany’s Nazi past, when the judiciary was controlled by Adolf Hitler’s regime, noting that the country has experienced first hand what it means when states flout the rule of law.

“Support for the ICC is therefore not merely a matter of foreign policy for Germany. It is also part of our historical responsibility,” he added.

Trump steps up pressure

The Trump administration has put sanctions on members of the court mainly due to its arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza war.

In a speech at the UN General Debate last week, US President Donald Trump called on the international community to withdraw en masse from the ICC.

Media reports suggest Washington is planning further sanctions against the entire court, which could potentially cut it off from the international financial system.

The ICC has 125 member states. Besides the US, Israel, Russia and Turkey are among the countries that do not recognize the court.

The court only intervenes when the states concerned refuse to conduct investigations themselves or are unable to do so.

Wadephul was also scheduled to meet ICC President Tomoko Akane and deputy chief prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, in The Hague.

The US government has imposed sanctions on Akane, saying she has repeatedly been involved in arrests or investigations into public officials whose governments have not consented to the ICC’s jurisdiction.