Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images Bolton's shot at global court draws ire of U.S. allies, foes

The foreign offices of France and Germany on Tuesday reaffirmed their support for the International Criminal Court following national security adviser John Bolton’s remarks that the ICC could face severe repercussions, including sanctions, should it pursue an investigation into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan.

Bolton blasted the court as “illegitimate” in a Monday speech, his first major one since arriving in the White House in April. The remarks drew opposition from a French foreign ministry spokeswoman who affirmed her country's support for the ICC.


“The creation of the ICC, to judge those responsible of the gravest crimes, represented an important step in the fight against impunity to which we are, along with the United States, very committed.” Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement. “The Court should be able to act and exercise its prerogatives without obstacles, independently and impartially.”

A second rebuke came from the German foreign ministry, which said in a tweet that it was committed to the work of the ICC — “in particular when it comes under fire.” Though decades-old allies, the United States and Germany have held a tense relationship in recent months.

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Bolton’s comments also prompted some key U.S. rivals to call for a stronger reaction from the international community.

“The boorishness of this rogue US regime seems to know no bounds,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in a tweet. “When will the international community say enough is enough & force US to act like a normal state?”

The Russian Embassy in Canada also accused the United States of intimidation on its Twitter account and said other countries, such as Canada, “will not dare” to condemn the administration.

In late 2017, the ICC's chief prosecutor requested authorization to launch an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity purportedly committed by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. Under international law, the ICC may investigate any crime committed in a member state. Although the United States is not among the 123 nations party to the Rome Statute which established the court, Afghanistan is a member.

In his Monday speech, Bolton said the United States would not cooperate with an investigation that he perceived as a violation of sovereignty.

“The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” Bolton said. “For all its intents and purposes, [it] is already dead to us.”

On Tuesday, the court stood firm: “The ICC, as a court of law, will continue to do its work undeterred, in accordance with those principles and the overarching idea of the rule of law.”