President Donald Trump’s disappointment at not winning the Nobel Peace Prize was followed by a major move against the International Court, where this year’s winner once served as a judge, with the timing suggesting retaliation.
On Friday, the Trump administration announced it was imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), aiming to weaken its operations by limiting financial transactions and possibly cutting off access to essential services.
The announcement followed the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, a South African jurist who was a former judge of the ICC and who has been recognized for her work in promoting international law.
The close timing doesn’t prove the sanctions were imposed in response to the Nobel Prize decision. As The New York Times reported, the administration had been planning the measures for months.
Marco Rubio, who is the Secretary of State, made it clear that Washington intended to severely limit the court’s activities. Rubio stated, “Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.”
The administration had earlier sanctioned individual judges and prosecutors. On Friday, however, it went much further by targeting the institution itself and could thus force banks, insurers and technology companies to sever ties with the court.
The Nobel Committee’s decision gave the growing confrontation a rather unusual turn.
The Nobel winner, now 85, served on the ICC’s Appeals Chamber from 2003 to 2008 and earlier led the United Nations’ human rights office. She also led a U.N. commission that investigated the conflict in Gaza.
On Truth Social, Trump endorsed his former lawyers’ criticism of her record.
When announcing her award, the Nobel Committee specifically pointed out the threats international judicial institutions face.
“The judges – those who guard the thin red line between order and chaos – are therefore highly deserving of our praise,” the committee said.
The ICC swiftly denounced the sanctions imposed by Washington, accusing the administration of attempting to obstruct international justice. The court president, Tomoko Akane, said the institution would keep operating on its own even in the face of the restrictions.
The clash comes after Trump has on several occasions stated that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Earlier this week, he said no one in the award’s history deserved it more, based on his claim that he had settled eight wars.
The sanctions imposed on Friday also showed Washington’s long-standing objections to the International Criminal Court conducting investigations that involve American military personnel and to the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The court, headquartered in the Netherlands, has 125 member states, including several American allies.
To avoid possible sanctions, its officials have already replaced Microsoft software and arranged alternative financial services.