US sanctions International Criminal Court as an institution, pledges to ban transactions

Washington has moved from sanctioning individual ICC judges and prosecutors to designating the court itself, with the Secretary of State promising to ban transactions with the institution. This segment covers what the escalation means for banks and intermediaries that process payments for, or cooperate with, the court, and the pressure now placed on allied jurisdictions.

• The US sanctioned the ICC as an institution on 9 October 2026, adding to measures already in place against 13 judges and prosecutors.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to ban transactions with the court and said Washington expects allies to 'rein in the court'.
• UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned the move as a 'serious blow'; the UN reaffirmed cooperation under the relationship agreement approved on 13 September 2004.