Full Breakdown
Germany’s Foreign Minister Visits ICC, Vows Full Backing Amid U.S. Sanctions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Wadephul’s Hague Visit
On September 28, 2026, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul travelled to The Hague to meet officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The visit underscored Berlin’s intention to counteract a wave of sanctions imposed by the United States under President Donald Trump.
Background – U.S. Campaign Targeting the ICC
Since President Trump took office, the United States has escalated a campaign to weaken the ICC. The administration has sanctioned 13 court staff members, including senior prosecutors and nine judges such as ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan. Sanctions have frozen bank accounts, cut off email services, and barred travel to the United States. The U.S. also threatens secondary sanctions on entities that cooperate with the court.
Official Statements & Responses
- He said Berlin is working with other states to preserve the court’s functionality.
- Netherlands: Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen warned that U.S. sanctions could soon target the entire institution. He called the EU “blocking statute” a “nuclear option” and said the Dutch government is in talks with the European Commission to enable rapid enactment if needed.
- South Africa: Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, co-chair of the Hague Group, cautioned that sanctions on the ICC could “fundamentally disrupt its operations.”
Data & Statistics
- The ICC currently has 125 member states.
- The U.S. sanctions list includes 13 ICC staff members, among them nine judges and senior prosecutors.
- The EU blocking statute, while designed to shield European companies from complying with U.S. sanctions, has an uncertain scope regarding protection for an international organization such as the ICC.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the legal reach of the EU blocking statute. Dutch officials describe it as a potential “nuclear option” to block compliance, yet analysts note uncertainty about whether the statute can extend protection to the ICC itself, which is not an EU body. No definitive clarification has been provided by the European Commission.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The German government completely supports the court,” — Johann Wadephul, german foreign minister
- “International rules are only as strong as the willingness to stand up for them. Especially at a time when international institutions are increasingly being called into question, we must clearly stand by them together with our global partners,” — Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, german foreign minister
- “Germany will do its part to ensure that the ICC remains capable of acting even under pressure,” — Johann Wadephul, german foreign minister
- “After all, how can you possibly be opposed to prosecuting the very worst crimes? And I believe there can be only one response: to say, hands off the ICC and all those other institutions that protect the international legal order.” — William Schabas, a specialist in international law
These statements capture the central voices shaping the diplomatic standoff over the ICC’s future.
