President Donald Trump has authorised sanctions against any official at the International Criminal Court who investigates US troops, ramping up pressure to stop its case into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
In an executive order, Mr Trump said the US would block US property and assets of anyone from The Hague-based tribunal involved in probing or prosecuting American troops.
“We cannot — we will not — stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
“I have a message to many close allies around the world — your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fought terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside of us.”
The court responded by stating that its president, O-Gon Kwon, “rejects measures taken against ICC”, calling them “unprecedented” and saying they “undermine our common endeavour to fight impunity and to ensure accountability for mass atrocities”.
US Attorney-General Bill Barr alleged, without giving detail, that Russia and other adversaries of America had been “manipulating” the court.
Mr Barr said the administration was trying to bring accountability to a global body. “This institution has become, in practice, little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites,” he said.
Read the article in The Australian (AP).