Local time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026

At the daily regular press briefing of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, EU Commission Spokesperson Anouar El Aouni publicly stated, “The EU firmly supports the International Criminal Court and the principles established by the Rome Statute. Any threats or attacks against the International Criminal Court and its personnel are unacceptable.”

This statement from the EU Commission spokesperson came as a clear response immediately following the U.S. announcement of launching a “systematic dismantling” campaign targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC). This is not merely a statement of position, but also reveals a profound rift between the U.S. and Europe over unilateral hegemony versus multilateral rule of law.

Just one day earlier (July 13), U.S. Secretary of State Rubio declared that all available tools would be used to “dismantle the ICC brick by brick” in order to eliminate what he described as a “comprehensive threat” to American sovereignty. Specific measures include:

Pressuring allies to withdraw from the Rome Statute and cut off financial support.

Imposing visa revocations and travel bans on ICC officials.

The deeper meaning behind the EU’s statement —

Clearly defining the U.S. actions as “threats and attacks,” defending the ICC as a core mechanism for prosecuting serious crimes such as war crimes.

Protecting the rule of law itself: Europe, lacking the unilateral capacity to shape global order, heavily relies on the international legal framework. If the ICC is weakened under pressure from major powers, the entire authority of international law would be undermined. The core point of contention lies in the U.S. pursuit of absolute sovereign immunity, while the EU upholds multilateral rules.

Regarding the subsequent implications of this dispute, as analysis points out, this struggle is no longer merely a legal issue — it has become a deep contest between state power and international norms. The EU may resort to tools such as “blocking statutes” to protect entities within its territory from the impact of U.S. sanctions, thereby safeguarding the multilateral order.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870828275625996/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.