Trump’s call for countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court has drawn a sharp response from Germany.
German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, says Berlin will stand by the Hague-based tribunal, rejecting the U.S. president’s description of the ICC as a “rogue institution”.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Trump urged all countries that are members of the ICC to immediately quit the court, calling it an “evil group of people”. But Germany says the ICC remains an important part of the international rules-based order.
Wadephul told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk that the court plays a crucial role in upholding international law and human rights, including holding individuals accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He also pointed to the ICC’s past rulings on atrocities in the Western Balkans, saying the international community still needs a judicial mechanism to address the gravest violations of international law.
The German foreign minister acknowledged that Berlin’s position represents a significant difference with the current U.S. administration.
The United States is not a member of the ICC and has stepped up sanctions against the court and some of its officials.
Washington’s pressure intensified after ICC judges issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Gaza conflict.
