US urges NATO allies to withdraw from Rome Statute

The United States has urged its NATO allies to withdraw from the Rome Statute and support a campaign aimed at weakening the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Politico.

Report, citing Politico, said the demand was made at a closed-door meeting of ambassadors from NATO's 32 member states in Brussels in mid-July.

According to three alliance diplomats, US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker called on allies to help weaken the International Criminal Court and withdraw from its founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

"We will be watching closely who supports America," Whitaker said.

At the same time, the US mission circulated a document among NATO delegations stating that Washington intended to reduce the ICC's capabilities. Allies were urged to begin the process of withdrawing from the Rome Statute immediately.

The United States also called on alliance members to assess the threat they believe the court poses to them, publicly condemn what Washington views as an overreach of its powers, and halt all material support for the court.

NATO itself is not a party to the Rome Statute. However, all alliance members except the United States and Türkiye are parties to it.