WASHINGTON—The U.S. State Department called for the International Criminal Court to be dismantled, welcoming Venezuela's decision to withdraw from the Hague-based tribunal. A State Department spokesperson said the court is "neither credible, independent, nor legitimate," urging all member nations to exit the Rome Statute.
Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the ICC this week, a move that shields President Nicolás Maduro and his government officials from potential prosecution for alleged human rights abuses. The court opened a formal investigation into Venezuela in 2021 for alleged crimes against humanity.
The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute, citing concerns about politically motivated prosecutions against U.S. military personnel and officials. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on former ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in 2020 after she launched an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan involving U.S. forces.
The U.S. position weakens the ICC's authority to prosecute leaders accused of severe international crimes. Nations already facing ICC scrutiny—Russia and Myanmar among them—gain diplomatic cover from Washington's stance, which complicates relations with European allies who strongly support the court.
The push for mass withdrawal challenges the framework of international justice established after World War II and sets a precedent for powerful nations to openly undermine institutions designed to hold governments accountable for atrocities. Countries under U.S. influence or already critical of the ICC could now face pressure to reconsider their membership.
