We are pleased to present the 10th issue of 2026 of John Lukacs Analyses on Global Affairs: 2026/10.US vs. ICC – Strategic or whimsical consideration?
- The US’s increasingly hostile approach towards the ICC is not merely a product of President Trump’s unpredictable decision-making but reflects the traditional effort to shield US personnel and allies from international criminal accountability.
- The US has developed a multifaceted set of legal, political, diplomatic and economic instruments to limit the ICC’s jurisdiction and influence its activities.
- Beyond US–ICC relations, the growing political pressure on the ICC and the withdrawal initiatives of several states threaten the international criminal justice system and, ultimately, the protection of victims of international crimes.
- The sanctions targeting the ICC in October 2026 represent a further escalation from debates on individual accountability to institutional confrontation. While Washington's actions follow a recognizable strategic logic, their long-term effects on American influence, multilateral cooperation, and the international legal order remain uncertain.
You can read the full paper on the John Lukacs Institute website.