Rubio says U.S. push to dismantle ICC is gaining momentum, warns service members tied to “rogue tribunal”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the United States’ campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court is gaining momentum after five countries moved toward quitting the tribunal, and he warned that U.S. military members could become targets of what he called a “rogue tribunal.” Rubio’s remarks were reported by The Washington Times in connection with the latest push by Washington to challenge the ICC’s authority and standing.

In the statement, Rubio tied the effort to a broader U.S. approach toward the ICC, framing withdrawal and resistance by other governments as evidence that the court’s influence is weakening. He said that five countries are moving to quit the ICC, a figure he presented as part of the momentum behind U.S. efforts to limit the court’s reach.

Rubio also addressed the risk to Americans in uniform. He warned that military personnel could be exposed to proceedings he characterized as illegitimate, describing the ICC as a “rogue tribunal” rather than a lawful forum for accountability. The warning was presented as a matter of national security and the protection of U.S. service members from being pulled into what Rubio portrayed as an abusive or unauthorized process.

The comments come as the ICC continues to operate as a focal point for international legal disputes involving military and security matters. Rubio’s remarks did not provide additional case specifics in the Washington Times report, but they emphasized the practical concern that U.S. military members could be placed at risk by actions tied to ICC processes.

The five-country withdrawal effort Rubio cited raises questions about how far countries will go in disengaging from the court and how that would affect ongoing diplomatic and legal coordination among states. For the United States, the remarks report continued attention to limiting exposure of Americans and reducing the ICC’s ability to assert jurisdiction, particularly in areas that intersect with defense and national security.

A key next step will be whether the countries Rubio referenced proceed from planning toward formal withdrawal, and whether Washington and its partners take additional steps to reinforce its position. Absent further details in the report, it remains unclear which five countries Rubio referred to or the specific timeline for any departures.