Blinken expresses desire to collaborate with Congress in imposing penalties on International Criminal Court

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his desire to work with Congress on legislation to penalize the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Blinken’s comments came during a State Department budget hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he called the ICC’s decision “profoundly wrongheaded.”

The Biden administration’s openness to taking action against the ICC was evident in Blinken’s remarks, as he responded to questions from Republican Sen. James Risch about working on legislation to address the ICC’s interference in the affairs of countries with independent judicial systems.

Blinken also mentioned his willingness to work with Sen. Lindsey Graham on bipartisan sanctions against the ICC, following the court’s issuance of warrants for senior Hamas officials as well.

Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the ICC’s actions, with House Speaker Mike Johnson stating that House Republicans are exploring sanctions against the court. The Biden administration has faced questions about its condemnation of the ICC’s actions while still supporting the court’s investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Despite the previous administration’s sanctions against ICC officials, which were lifted by the Biden administration, the US continues to support the court’s work in holding individuals accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

As the situation continues to unfold, the Biden administration and Congress are considering their options in response to the ICC’s recent actions, with a focus on protecting the interests of the United States and its allies.