The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Sunday that Washington is prepared to take further action against the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of overreaching by asserting jurisdiction over citizens of countries that have not joined the court’s founding treaty.
Speaking to reporters at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida, Rubio said the United States had spent roughly a year and a half pressing for reforms but had made no progress.
“We’re never going to accept that when it comes to Americans,” Rubio said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Rubio said the ICC should clarify that it cannot prosecute American officials or military personnel, particularly senior leaders and servicemembers from countries outside the court’s treaty framework.
He urged U.S. allies to pressure the court to change its position or risk Washington imposing additional measures.
“If they want to avoid the actions we are going to take against the ICC, they should convince the ICC once and for all” to drop such claims, Rubio said.
Asked whether potential European Union countermeasures or secondary sanctions concerned him, Rubio dismissed the prospect.
“I’m not concerned,” he said, adding that the ICC “will not be in good shape” if the United States is forced to act.
Rubio also said the administration had no diplomatic breakthrough to report in efforts to end the war with Iran, describing Tehran’s demands as “unacceptable,” “outrageous” and unrealistic.
On Ukraine, he said talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi could make progress on proposals for postwar security guarantees and a broader European security architecture, though no agreement had been finalized.
Rubio’s remarks come as the administration prepares for discussions with G7 allies, where Iran, Ukraine and the future of European security are expected to feature prominently.