Netherlands condemns U.S. sanctions against International Criminal Court

The United States has imposed sanctions against the key figures of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that these measures are part of the U.S. mission to protect its citizens from what he calls a 'pseudo-court.'

The Dutch government has expressed its disapproval of the new sanctions imposed by the U.S. on two ICC staff members. Minister Berendsen emphasized that the Netherlands, as the host country of the court in The Hague, has a special responsibility and naturally rejects these sanctions.

According to Berendsen, the Netherlands has been working behind the scenes in recent months to mitigate the impact of these sanctions on those involved. He stated that the Netherlands is actively engaged in diplomatic discussions in an effort to improve the situation for the affected individuals.

A few weeks ago, Berendsen personally discussed this issue with his American counterparts, expressing his concerns about the sanctions. The relationship with the U.S. remains important, but the Netherlands also values the independence of the ICC.

The sanctions are a consequence of the ICC's legal action against American military personnel regarding the war in Afghanistan. The U.S. has argued that the ICC is overstepping its mandate and accuses the court of bias.

This situation underscores the tensions between the U.S. and the ICC, while the Netherlands continues to emphasize its role as the host country for the court. The Dutch government remains committed to the interests of both the ICC and the staff under pressure from the U.S. measures.