International Criminal Court condemns US sanctions against it

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated earlier on Friday that Washington would ban any dealings with what he described as a "rogue court," intensifying the campaign led by President Donald Trump's administration to dismantle the judicial body.

Washington justified the sanctions by citing its desire to "defend American sovereignty and its citizens in the face of the threat posed by the International Criminal Court," according to a statement released by the State Department.

The Court viewed these measures as an attempt to intimidate its staff and obstruct its activities, affirming that it would not allow anything to deter it from its path.

ICC President Tomoko Akane said in a statement that "the Court will continue to fulfill its mandate to the fullest, with complete independence and impartiality, relying exclusively on the law and evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of serious crimes."

The Court also called on its 125 member states to stand by it, emphasizing that its fate "now also depends on the states that created it."

The Court added, "Future generations, especially victims of mass atrocities, will ask how we responded when an institution created to protect them was targeted."

Washington imposed the sanctions hours after former South African judge Navi Pillay was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition particularly of her work within the International Criminal Court.

For its part, the European Union considered the US sanctions "highly regrettable," confirming it is "ready to take any necessary measures to enable the Court to perform its work."

The European Commission stated, "The European Union will work closely with the International Criminal Court to ensure it continues to operate effectively," hoping that the six-month period before the sanctions take effect will provide "room for dialogue."