Germany responded to US President Donald Trump's call to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced that his country would continue supporting the court in The Hague.
In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Wadephul described the ICC as an element of the rules-based international order and the history of civilization. Wadephul said Germany stood behind the court and that its position on the matter was clear.
Trump called for withdrawal at the UN General Assembly
Donald Trump described the ICC as a "bad group of people" on Tuesday during the opening of the United Nations General Assembly debate in New York. The US President called on all countries that are members of the court to withdraw from the institution immediately.
Wadephul said he did not understand the substance of Trump's call. The German foreign minister said the position had created a regrettable disagreement between the policy of the US administration and Germany.
Berlin emphasizes the ICC's role
Wadephul said the ICC was important for protecting international law and human rights. He also highlighted the court's role in holding people responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity to account.
Germany's foreign minister noted that the ICC's previous and current judgments had addressed atrocities in the Western Balkans as well as the most serious violations of international law and human rights. Wadephul said the need for such a judicial mechanism at the international level remained.
Tensions between the US and the ICC
The US is not a member of the ICC. During Trump's presidency, the US administration increased sanctions against the court and some of its officials.
The US pressure campaign intensified after ICC judges issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The arrest warrants were linked to allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
