The United States has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Friday, saying President Donald Trump would not allow the court to prosecute American citizens.

Pillay, a South African jurist, previously headed the United Nations tribunal for the Rwanda genocide. She also chaired a UN commission that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. She currently serves as a judge at the International Court of Justice, where Myanmar faces allegations of genocide.

The ICC described Pillay’s Nobel recognition as particularly significant amid what it called political attacks on international law.

Washington has repeatedly criticised the court, particularly over its arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its previous investigation into alleged crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan.

Announcing the sanctions, Rubio said the measures would prohibit transactions with the court, cut off its resources and undermine its ability to operate.

“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” he said, urging US allies, including countries that belong to the court, to intervene.

The ICC has 125 member states, including all European Union countries and all NATO members except the United States and Turkey.

Rubio, however, indicated that Washington remained open to negotiations, saying the sanctions were structured to allow discussions aimed at addressing US concerns.

He warned that the administration could introduce further measures if negotiations failed.

Following the announcement, the US Treasury issued four general licences permitting certain transactions involving the ICC, including telecommunications, software services, pension payments and matters connected to court detainees.

US sanctions typically restrict American companies and financial institutions from conducting business with designated entities, potentially affecting banking, insurance and technology services.

The ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.