Sourced fact
The News
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has terminated its insurance contract with French company Axa immediately, according to Al Jazeera. This decision came following statements by US President Donald Trump attacking the court, and the Financial Times reported that the US administration is preparing to impose sanctions on the court due to its demands to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Previous reports indicated that the US administration had already imposed sanctions on more than twenty judges and investigators at the ICC, including the current president of the court.
A spokesperson for the ICC told Reuters that "Axa and the court agreed to terminate the contractual relationship." Reports indicated that Axa and the ICC were unable to reach a solution without using what is known as the Blocking Regulation, a legal tool designed to protect European companies from the effects of sanctions imposed by third countries.
Reports suggest that US sanctions could prohibit the ICC from conducting transactions in US dollars, forcing European companies to terminate their contracts with the court. The ICC and Axa informed Al Jazeera that they would not comment on the matter.
According to the Financial Times, the ICC will use a new insurance company, but the company has not been identified yet.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, this step reflects increasing tension between the ICC and the United States. The US views the court as overstepping its jurisdiction by prosecuting citizens of states that did not ratify the Rome Statute which established the court. This tension could lead to broader repercussions on the relationship between the court and member states, especially those supportive of the United States.
In a broader context, this event reflects the ongoing tension between the court and major powers that view themselves as having a special status. This could lead to a decline in international support for the court, impacting its ability to enforce international justice.
