In March 2019, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the US would apply visa restrictions on individuals directly responsible for any International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations of US personnel. He added that the visa restrictions may also deter ICC efforts to target US allies, including Israelis.
Pompeo further threatened economic sanctions if the ICC doesn’t change direction regarding who it targets.
On Friday, April 12, the ICC announced its unanimous rejection of a request to investigate American military and intelligence professionals who served in Afghanistan.
President Trump released a statement welcoming the decision, and added that “any attempt to target American, Israeli or allied personnel for prosecution will be met with a swift and vigorous response.”
Statement from President Trump:
“Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced its unanimous rejection of a request to investigate American military and intelligence professionals who served in Afghanistan. This is a major international victory, not only for these patriots, but for the rule of law. We welcome this decision and reiterate our position that the United States holds American citizens to the highest legal and ethical standards.
Since the creation of the ICC, the United States has consistently declined to join the court because of its broad, unaccountable prosecutorial powers; the threat it poses to American national sovereignty; and other deficiencies that render it illegitimate. Any attempt to target American, Israeli, or allied personnel for prosecution will be met with a swift and vigorous response.”