USA lift sanctions against International Criminal Court

Fatou Bensouda (left): The US government announced sanctions against the ICC chief prosecutor in September last year

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POOL New / Reuters / REUTERS

The US government has lifted the sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court (ICC) under former President Donald Trump.

Foreign Minister Antony Blinken announced this.

The US continues to oppose investigations by the court into Afghanistan or Israel, but the government of President Joe Biden wants to solve problems "through a dialogue with all actors involved and the ICC, rather than by imposing sanctions."

In September last year, the US government announced sanctions against ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the head of the judiciary, complementarity and cooperation department, Phakiso Mochochoko.

The background to this was primarily investigations into US soldiers for possible war crimes in Afghanistan.

Numerous states condemned the Trump administration's move.

This was "inappropriate and ineffective," said Blinken now.

The USA is not a member of the ICC and has repeatedly and severely attacked the tribunal in the past.

Among other things, Washington strictly rejects investigations by the criminal court against US citizens.

wal / dpa