Jetten warns Trump of “jeopardising” relations over ICC

Prime minister Rob Jetten has said the Dutch are pulling out all of the diplomatic stops to prevent further sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague, warning American president Donald Trump against further escalations.

”My message to President Trump is very clear: don’t do it. Do not further jeopardise the relationship between Europe and the US by imposing new sanctions on the ICC,” Jetten told journalists in New York.

The prime minister is set to address the United Nations later today.

The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the Associated Press have all reported in recent days that the United States is planning to escalate its fight with the ICC and sanction the institution as a whole as part of its campaign to dismantle the court “brick by brick”.

The White House has already sanctioned 13 staff members, including court president, Japanese Judge Tomoko Akane, over the investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

As the court’s host state, the Netherlands is obliged to provide assistance such as cooperation with security, facilitating visas and transporting defendants and witnesses.

A number of opposition parties in the Netherlands feel the government is not doing enough to protect the institution. MP Kati Piri of Pro told public broadcaster NOS that the cabinet has adopted a “super weak” stance so far.

In a letter to parliament earlier this month, foreign affairs minister Tom Berendsen said the Dutch had been regularly meeting with the court and other countries to discuss the situation, writing that “Dutch efforts have contributed to the court’s ability … to continue the vast majority of its operations unimpeded thus far.”