US Intensifies Campaign Against ICC; Chad Joins Growing Exodus

US Intensifies Campaign Against ICC; Chad Joins Growing Exodus

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | July 29, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – In a significant escalation of its efforts to undermine the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United States has publicly lauded Chad’s decision to withdraw from the global tribunal, urging more nations to follow suit. This move marks a critical juncture for the ICC, which is facing a concerted campaign by the US and a mounting exodus of member states, predominantly from Africa.

Chad’s departure, announced this week, makes it the fifth nation to formally initiate withdrawal from the ICC. This follows closely on the heels of Venezuela, which last week commenced its own withdrawal process amidst an ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by its former government. Both Chad and Venezuela echo a common sentiment among withdrawing nations: accusations of the court’s disproportionate focus on non-Western states.

Earlier this July, the ICC confirmed that the Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – all under military rule – had formally begun their year-long withdrawal process, with Niger’s request submitted last month.

The US, in a striking statement, not only hailed Chad’s decision but explicitly attributed it to direct US pressure. “Chad’s decision to quit the ICC followed a request by the US,” the Central African nation declared.

Washington wasted no time in amplifying its stance, labeling the ICC a “flawed institution.” A US statement on Tuesday declared, “As Secretary Rubio has stated, the United States will never surrender its sovereignty to an unaccountable global tribunal, and we are launching a comprehensive, whole-of-government campaign to end the ICC’s illegitimate overreach. We call on all other ICC members to withdraw from the Rome Statute.”

This aggressive stance highlights a broader US policy against the ICC, a court it has never joined, alongside other major global players like Russia, China, Israel, and Myanmar. The ICC currently comprises 125 member states.

ICC Presidency Expresses “Concern” Amid Withdrawals

In response to the growing wave of withdrawals, the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s legislative and oversight body, expressed “concern” over these developments. A press release dated July 1, 2026, regretted the actions of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, stating that such decisions “risk undermining the collective pursuit of justice and weakening global efforts to end impunity.”

The Presidency emphasized the ICC’s central role in the international system of accountability, stressing that its effectiveness hinges on “sustained and unequivocal support from the international community.” It called for continued constructive engagement from withdrawing nations, reminding them that prior obligations remain in effect despite withdrawal.

The escalating confrontation between the US and the ICC, coupled with the increasing number of withdrawals, signals a challenging period for the court’s legitimacy and global reach. As the US intensifies its “whole-of-government campaign,” the future of international justice, particularly concerning accountability for severe crimes, hangs in the balance.

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