Biden turns the page on Trump's sanctions against the International Criminal Court
Joe Biden in Wilmington.
Reuters
US President Joe Biden announced yesterday the lifting of sanctions on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ending an unprecedented campaign launched by his predecessor, Donald Trump, against this international judicial body, and that sparked sharp differences with European allies.
However, Biden stressed at the same time Washington’s continued opposition to an investigation of facts attributed to "non-signatory countries" to the Rome Agreement establishing the Hague-based court and welcomed Biden's decision.
The Criminal Court considered that Biden’s move opens a "new era" of cooperation with Washington.
"As President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (the International Criminal Court), I would like to express my deep satisfaction with the decision taken by the United States government ... to lift the unfortunate sanctions against the ICC prosecutor," said Silvia Fernandez de Gourmande.
Biden said that "threatening and imposing financial sanctions on the court, its staff and those who help it (...) is not an appropriate or effective strategy."
Biden canceled an executive order issued by Trump on sanctions, lifted the sanctions imposed in 2019 on the official at the International Criminal Court, Vakisu Mushushoku, as well, and banned visas to other court employees.
The Trump administration, motivated by the former president's national security adviser John Bolton and then former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, imposed sanctions on a number of court officials, including Attorney General Fatou Bensouda, last September.
France, which, like other European allies, was upset by Trump's decision, applauded Biden's move.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement that the US decision "is good news for all those committed to combating impunity, pluralism and the international order based on the rule of law."
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