Dutch gov't backs ICC amid U.S. campaign to "dismantle court's threat"

THE HAGUE, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government reaffirmed its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday after the United States announced a broad campaign to "dismantle the threat" posed by the Hague-based tribunal to U.S. sovereignty.

"As host nation and State Party, the Netherlands stands behind the International Criminal Court and its staff," Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen wrote on social media X on Tuesday. He stressed that international courts must be able to carry out their mandates without interference.

"The United States does not want to be held accountable," Alette Smeulers, professor specializing in international crimes at the University of Groningen, told Dutch public broadcaster NOS. It essentially wants "a license to violate international law" in countries that are parties to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, Smeulers said.

In a statement released on Monday, the U.S. Department of State argued that the ICC poses "an intolerable threat" by claiming the authority to investigate, prosecute and even imprison American service members and government officials acting in the interests of the United States.

The ICC had not publicly responded to the latest U.S. campaign as of Tuesday.

The move marks the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and the court. The U.S. State Department in December imposed sanctions on two ICC judges over what it described as their involvement in "politicized actions" against Israel. Enditem