The United States Launched a verbal attack on the judges of ICC through John Bolton who is Trump's National Security Adviser . John Bolton, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, made the announcement in a speech to the Federalist Society, a conservative group, in Washington, DC, on Monday.
"Today, on the eve of September 11th, I want to deliver a clear and unambiguous message on behalf of the president. 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.
"We will not cooperate with the ICC. We will provide no assistance to the ICC ... We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us."
Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world's first permanent court set up to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
More than 120 countries are members, but superpowers - including the US, Russia and China - have not signed up.
On the ICC, Bolton said if any investigations go ahead on alleged US war crimes, the Trump administration will consider banning judges and prosecutors from entering the country, put sanctions on any funds they have in the US financial system, and prosecute them in US courts.
Bolton said the main objection is the idea that the ICC could have higher authority than the US constitution and US sovereignty.
"In secular terms, we don't recognise any higher authority than the US constitution," he said. "This president will not allow American citizens to be prosecuted by foreign bureaucrats, and he will not allow other nations to dictate our means of self-defence."
What is your Opinion?
Is US justified in launching such verbal attack on judges?
Does US has exemption on all kind of war crimes?