The Guardian view on the US, Russia and the international criminal court: Trump’s assault on the rule of law intensifies | Editorial
A fuel deal with Vladimir Putin, and sanctions against the legal institution, ram home the president’s belief that might is right On Friday, Donald Trump drove home his belief that might is right and the rule of law is an obstacle rather than an essential foundation stone of international order. First came the escalated assault on the international criminal court (ICC), sanctioning the body itself. Then he announced…
Key points
- Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC and announced a diesel deal with Russia on the same day.
- The US sanctions followed ICC arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu and Gallant.
- The Nobel committee named former ICC judge Navi Pillay as this year's peace laureate.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump escalated his attack on the International Criminal Court by imposing sanctions on the institution itself, and announced a deal with Russia to buy diesel. The Guardian editorial said these actions showed his belief that might is right and that the rule of law is an obstacle to international order.
The sanctions followed the ICC's Afghanistan investigation and its arrest warrants for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said companies have six months to wind down ties and that US allies must rein in the court, warning: "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC."
The Moscow diesel deal
Trump announced the deal with Russia as diesel prices rise before the midterms. The editorial said he blames Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities for the high costs, but that his own unlawful war on Iran raised prices.
The editorial said the Moscow deal is unlikely to produce significant shipments because the Russian military runs on diesel. It added that the message is meant to pressure Ukraine to make life easier for Vladimir Putin, for whom the ICC has issued an arrest warrant.
my own morality
— Donald Trump
Reaction and contrast
The same day, the Nobel committee named Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge and chair of the UN commission that last year concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, as this year's peace laureate. The committee said "Peace requires justice."
The editorial said the UK, EU and others were right to criticise the US decision and declare their commitment to the court. It said invoking blocking statutes against sanctions would add weight to their words, and that they must show similar resolve in standing with Ukraine.
