US urged NATO allies to withdraw from Rome Statute — Jerusalem Post
At a closed meeting of ambassadors from 32 NATO countries in Brussels, Belgium, in mid-July, the United States urged allies to withdraw from the Rome Statute — the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC) — and stop supporting the court. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post, citing Politico and three NATO diplomats.
According to Politico's sources, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker asked allies to help systematically dismantle the ICC in The Hague. At the end of his remarks, he warned that the United States would closely watch who supports America, diplomats said.
Washington's demands
The US delegation to NATO also distributed a document outlining the US administration's position among representatives of the states. It stated that the United States intended to systematically dismantle the ICC's capabilities, while allies were urged to take immediate steps to withdraw from the Rome Statute.
Washington asked countries to assess the threat that, in the US view, the court poses to them, publicly condemn what the American side called the ICC's overreach, and immediately end any material support for the institution. The document also called for an end to what the United States described as the charade of the International Criminal Court.
NATO is not a party to the Rome Statute. According to the publication, all Alliance states except the United States and Turkey are members of the ICC.
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Allies' reaction
France and the Netherlands defended the ICC during the meeting and made clear that they did not intend to comply with the US demand. One diplomat present at the meeting called Whitaker's remarks rather shocking, while another described them as disappointing.
The US Mission to NATO did not respond to Politico's request for comment. The French delegation declined to discuss details of the closed meeting but stated its unwavering support for the court. The Dutch delegation referred to remarks by Foreign Minister Tom Brandsen about the Netherlands' full support for the ICC.
According to Politico, US representatives also raised the issue in bilateral contacts with European countries. The US State Department warned that it would pay closer attention to states that do not distance themselves from what Washington calls the court's false authority but continue to expect US assistance.
The campaign against the ICC was launched in the summer by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused the court of undermining US sovereignty. Last month, Washington imposed sanctions on ICC officials, including the court's president, Tomoko Akane. In response, an ICC representative said that the institution would continue to carry out its mandate impartially and independently in accordance with the Rome Statute.
