US Freezes Funds for Global War Crimes Court

A wave of international pushback is building after Washington moved to choke off money for the world's top war crimes tribunal. Canada, Japan, and several European powers issued a joint statement slamming the decision. They promised to keep backing the court's investigations. The Dutch foreign minister called a potential EU countermeasure the "nuclear option" but said talks are underway to activate it fast if needed.

The White House announced the crackdown on Friday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the court is a "rogue" body with no authority over Americans. The order blocks the tribunal from US banks, tech firms, and the dollar system. American companies have six months to cut ties. Rubio warned allies to join the pressure campaign or watch the US dismantle the institution piece by piece.

The court's president, Tomoko Akane of Japan, vowed to keep working without fear or favor. She said the judges answer only to law and evidence. Amnesty International labeled the move an existential threat. The group urged governments to take concrete steps to shield the court's staff and operations.

The timing raised eyebrows. The announcement came right after the Nobel Peace Prize went to Navi Pillay, a former judge at the tribunal. Trump has openly coveted that award. Critics say the sanctions look like retaliation. Two days earlier, Rubio had praised the rule of law in a speech at the Acropolis in Athens.

Several nations have already quit the court this year. Venezuela, Chad, and the Pacific island of Nauru all walked away. The exodus underscores how fragile the tribunal's global support has become. The US says it will keep pushing until Americans face no threat from the court's probes.