German foreign minister visits The Hague to back ICC after U.S. sanctions

# What happened German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul traveled to The Hague and publicly pledged support for the International Criminal Court following a fresh round of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. Wadephul framed backing the ICC as necessary for maintaining international rules and enforcement.

# Concrete steps and statements Wadephul urged continued backing for the court's operations and investigative work amid what he described as increased political pressure. He met with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, who suggested the ICC might rely on the European Union Blocking Statute to counter the effects of third-country sanctions.

Statute is an EU legal instrument designed to nullify certain foreign sanctions' effects on EU persons and entities. Civil society groups, including the Union of European Federalists, have urged the EU to amend or apply the statute so it explicitly covers measures targeting the ICC. Ireland's deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, also called for the European Commission to implement the Blocking Statute quickly in response to the sanctions.

# U.S. actions and responses U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, urged countries to leave the ICC and the Trump administration announced sanctions on 13 ICC judges or court personnel. U.S. officials argue the court has asserted jurisdiction over U.S. nationals who did not consent to ICC jurisdiction.

Thirty-eight civil organizations filed a brief in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York arguing those sanctions are disrupting the court's work on crimes against humanity and limiting victims' access to the ICC.

# Legal and practical barriers to a full countermeasure Analysts at the Atlantic Council warned that even if the EU invokes the Blocking Statute, it would be difficult to fully neutralize U.S. sanctions. The main obstacles are third-party countries and companies that have commercial or operational ties to the United States. Those entities can be exposed to U.S. penalties regardless of EU domestic rules, undermining the reach of an EU-based countermeasure.

# What to watch next

• Whether the European Commission formally applies or amends the Blocking Statute to cover ICC-related sanctions.
• Legal challenges to U.S. sanctions in U.S. courts, including the brief filed in the Southern District of New York.
• Practical effects on ICC investigations, especially access for victims and the court's staff mobility.

The visit by Germany's foreign minister signals coordinated European concern. The options on the table mix diplomatic support, possible legal countermeasures under EU law, and public pressure in multilateral fora. Each option has limits when U.S. extraterritorial reach and private-sector exposure to American penalties remain powerful deterrents.