Six Months To Survive: ICC Faces New Financial and Political Pressure

Six months. That is the window of time the United States has given the International Criminal Court to resolve what Washington views as its most critical grievances. This deadline, set by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a decisive shift in the relationship between the world's top war crimes tribunal and the most powerful nation on Earth. The stakes are high, as the American administration has labeled the institution a rogue body and issued a stark ultimatum: the court must change its approach, or it will face existential threats.

The pressure is already being felt within the court's walls, even though the formal sanctions do not take effect until six months after their announcement in early October. Nazhat Shameem Khan, the deputy prosecutor who is currently co-running the office, reports that staff members are encountering significant hurdles. Specifically, banking institutions are adopting a cautious approach, often over-complying with new regulations to minimize their own risk. This has led to difficulties for individual employees, despite the fact that the sanctions are technically aimed at the institution rather than its personnel.

Despite these logistical headaches, Khan insists that the core mission remains intact. She states that the investigation into the war in Gaza, along with other active cases, has made significant progress since the arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Galant were issued in late 2024. The lack of new public charges since then, she explains, is due to a recent ruling requiring all warrant applications to remain secret until judges approve their disclosure. This secrecy can create an illusion of stagnation, but Khan assures that work is continuing at a steady pace behind the scenes.

The court is actively working to insulate itself from the hostile environment in Washington. Measures include switching from Microsoft software to European alternatives and renegotiating contracts for banking and health insurance. Khan emphasizes that no decisions have been made to reduce the court's output or capability based on these sanctions. However, she acknowledges that it is impossible to predict the full impact once the measures officially take hold. This strategy is a calculated attempt to maintain operational independence while navigating a turbulent political landscape.

Khan is not new to this kind of pressure. In February 2025, she was one of thirteen ICC staff members targeted by earlier US sanctions. She describes the inconvenience of life without a credit card, noting how much of the world now relies on digital payments for travel and daily activities. Yet, she puts this discomfort into perspective by recalling visits to refugee camps and sites of mass atrocities. For the victims she represents, the mechanics of international banking are irrelevant; their primary focus is on achieving justice.

The prosecutor's office is dealing with internal challenges as well. Formal investigations into allegations of sexual harassment against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan began in late 2024. The British jurist, who is not related to the current deputy, denied the charges and was removed from his post in July following a vote by member states. This internal turbulence adds another layer of complexity to the court's current operational environment, testing its resilience from both the outside and within.

Washington's rhetoric has intensified recently, with Rubio claiming that globalist experts want the court to prosecute US citizens. Khan noted that no Americans have currently been brought before the court, though she pointed to the Afghanistan investigation as a potential reference. In that case, the focus is on offenses committed by the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan against women and girls. This month, the court unsealed four arrest warrants for Taliban members on charges of gender persecution, signaling that this line of inquiry is moving forward.

The court is not standing alone in this fight. The ICC registrar is negotiating with the European Union to find ways to block the sanctions or protect the institution. Recently, the European Parliament awarded the court its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought. Khan views this recognition as a vital message to her staff. She believes the intense global attention reflects the court's relevance, serving as a crucial avenue of justice for victims who have no other place to turn in their search for accountability.

As the six-month countdown proceeds, the ICC faces a critical test of its endurance. The combination of financial restrictions, political pressure, and internal restructuring creates a challenging backdrop. However, the leadership maintains that the court is adapting and continuing to pursue its mandate. The coming months will determine whether the institution can weather this storm and maintain its capacity to deliver justice on the global stage.