Bolton is a longtime opponent of the court on grounds that it violates national sovereignty. The speech, titled "Protecting American Constitutionalism and Sovereignty from International Threats", is Bolton's first formal address since joining the administration in April. It is sponsored by the Federalist Society, a conservative and libertarian policy group. The International Criminal Court building in the The Hague Credit:ICC Bolton is expected to outline a new campaign to challenge the court's legitimacy as it considers cases that could put the United States and close allies in jeopardy for the first time, according to individuals familiar with the planned remarks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to do so on the record. Bolton is likely to lay out American opposition to the court and propose measures including new agreements to shield US personnel from international prosecution and the threat of sanctions or travel restrictions for people involved in prosecuting Americans.

One person said Bolton plans to use the speech to announce that the Trump administration will force the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's office in Washington in a dispute over a Palestinian effort to seek prosecution of Israel through the ICC. Bolton's announcement is closely related to concern at the Pentagon and among intelligence agencies about potential US liability to prosecution at the court over actions in Afghanistan, said a senior administration official familiar with aspects of the forthcoming announcement. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Credit:AP The ICC investigation of US wartime actions represents exactly the kind of infringement on US sovereignty that Bolton and other opponents of the court have long warned about, that official and others said. "It's a much more real policy matter now because of the potential liability in Afghanistan," the official said, adding that other nations share US concerns.

The Trump administration has questioned whether the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute US citizens for actions in Afghanistan, because Afghan, US and US military law all could apply in different situations, the official said. The new broadside against the ICC follows steps by the administration challenging international cooperation in other areas. This year, the administration has withdrawn from the United Nations human rights body, halted financial support for a UN aid program for Palestinian refugees and threatened to pull out of the World Trade Organisation. US Marine prepares for a training session for Afghan army commandos in the Shorab military camp in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Credit:AP Bolton's speech comes two weeks before President Donald Trump will attend the United Nations General Assembly, where he will address other world leaders. US officials have said Trump will focus on US claims about the threat posed by Iran, and reiterate his opposition to the international nuclear deal with Iran. Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in May. Trump's opposition to the Iran deal is related to a wider suspicion of international agreements and organisations such as the ICC.

Three successive US administrations of both political parties have rejected the full jurisdiction of the international court over American citizens, although U.S. cooperation with the court expanded significantly under the Obama administration. The United States has never signed the 2002 international treaty, called the Rome Treaty, that established the court, which is based in The Hague. Loading Stephen Pomper, who worked on issues related to the ICC in the Obama administration, said an attempt to weaken the court would exacerbate strains between the United States and allies in Europe and elsewhere who were supporters of the court. "It's going to create friction that's not necessary and it's going to create the impression the United States is a bully and a hegemon," said Pomper, who now is US program director at the International Crisis Group.

Bolton was part of an effort during the George W Bush administration to formalise US resistance to the court, including through legislation prohibiting US support and efforts to pressure other countries into agreements not to surrender US citizens to the body. Bolton's opposition has intensified as ICC judges evaluate a request from prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who last year asked for permission to formally investigate alleged crimes committed during the Afghan war. That could potentially include actions by US military or intelligence personnel in the detention of terrorism suspects. The United States has been embroiled in the Afghan war for 17 years. Credit:AP The court is also considering a request from Palestinian authorities to probe alleged crimes committed in Palestinian territories, a step that could result in attempts to prosecute Israeli officials. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in a speech at the United Nations a year ago, called on the ICC to investigate and prosecute Israeli citizens for alleged crimes against Palestinians.

In response, the Trump administration had moved in November to close the Palestinian diplomatic office, but quickly back-tracked and allowed the office to remain open with temporary restrictions. That office serves as a de facto embassy, staffed by an ambassador, to represent Palestinian interests to the US government. The Trump administration contends that the Palestinians violated US law by seeking prosecution of Israel at the ICC. The administration's initial decision to close the office caused a breach with Abbas that widened in December when Trump announced that the United States would recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move its embassy there. Washington Post