US envoy says US would leave ICC alone if court did the same

The US ambassador in The Hague, Joe Popolo, has responded to Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s appeal to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) alone. Popolo said the United States would gladly leave the court alone if it did the same to the US, Dutch news agency ANP reported on 26 September. He also described the ICC as politicised, while expressing great respect for Jetten. [1]

In a UN General Assembly speech published on 25 September, Jetten urged countries to keep their hands off the ICC and other institutions that protect the international legal order. He argued that undermining the court weakens that order for everyone and said impunity must not be accepted. [2]

Jetten did not name the US or President Donald Trump in his remarks about the court. Dutch broadcaster NOS interpreted the speech as criticism of Trump and his language about the ICC. [3]