United States President Donald Trump has called on countries that are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the institution, describing it as an organisation that has exceeded its authority.
Trump made the call on Tuesday while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The US president criticised the ICC, saying the court had become “out of control” and urged member states to formally leave the body.
“The United States is equally opposed to the out-of-control institution known as the International Criminal Court,” Trump said.
“I call on all nations that are members of the ICC to officially resign from this rogue institution immediately.”
Trump argued that the court should not have authority over countries and individuals that do not recognise its jurisdiction.
He said the United States would not allow American citizens or military personnel to be investigated by what he described as an institution without authority over the country.
“Washington would never allow US service members or anyone else to be investigated or given show-trials by an anti-American tribunal with no jurisdiction over us,” he stated.
The ICC was established through the Rome Statute, a treaty adopted in 1998, to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
The United States is not a member of the ICC and has never ratified the Rome Statute. Other countries, including Israel, Russia and China, are also not members.
Trump’s comments come amid long-standing disagreements between Washington and the ICC over the court’s investigations and authority.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously criticised the ICC and called for measures against the institution, describing it as a challenge to US sovereignty.
The ICC continues to operate as an independent international court with more than 120 member states.
