Washington (Monitoring Desk) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticised the alleged political use of international law, warning the International Criminal Court (ICC) against attempting to impose legal rules on the United States that Washington does not recognise.
Addressing the Federalist Society’s National Lawyers Convention, Marco Rubio said that certain influential circles were using international law to advance their own interests. Addressing the ICC, he said those in positions of power should refrain from lecturing others about the law.
Rubio alleged that the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, was attempting to apply legal principles to the United States that Washington had not accepted.
The US Secretary of State’s remarks come at a time when, about a month ago, the United States announced new sanctions against the ICC and expressed its determination to severely undermine its operations.
The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals accused of serious crimes and atrocities. It serves as a court of last resort in cases where the relevant countries lack an effective judicial system to ensure accountability.
The United States signed the agreement establishing the International Criminal Court but did not become a member because it never ratified the Rome Statute. Israel, Russia and China are also not members of the court.