The US will "thoroughly review" sanctions on International Criminal Court officials over investigations into the conduct of US forces in Afghanistan, a State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.
"Much as we disagree with the ICC’s actions relating to the Afghanistan and Israeli/Palestinian situations, the sanctions will be thoroughly reviewed as we determine our next steps," the spokesman said in a written response.
The Donald Trump administration last year accused The Hague-based tribunal of infringing on US national sovereignty when it authorised an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Afghan forces, the Taliban or US troops.
It targeted court staff, including prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, with asset freezes and travel bans for investigating American citizens without US consent.
In 2017, Ms Bensouda said there was evidence to suggest US military and intelligence personnel “committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period".
Last year, appeal judges at the ICC gave approval for prosecutors to investigate the Taliban, Afghan forces and US military and intelligence personnel for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The US is not an ICC member.
Mr Trump's secretary of state Mike Pompeo also opposed an investigation launched in 2019 into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian Territories, including the actions of Israeli forces.
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President Donald Trump with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Mark Milley addresses members of the military during a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. AP -
Trump's visit to Bagram Airfield outside Kabul was brief. Reuters -
President Donald Trump said o the US had resumed talks with Taliban insurgents as he made a surprise trip to Afghanistan to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with troops. Reuters -
A US soldier looks through night vision goggles while riding with the Presidential Motorcade. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley before addressing the troops at Bagram Air Field during a surprise Thanksgiving day visitin Afghanistan. AFP -
On a brief visit to Bagram Airfield outside the capital Kabul, Mr Trump served turkey dinner to soldiers, posed for photographs and delivered a speech. AFP -
Afghan's President Ashraf Ghani shakes hands with US President Donald Trump. AFP -
Soldiers take pictures of US President Donald Trump. AFP -
About 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan, 18 years after the United States invaded after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Trump said he planned to reduce the number to 8,600 without giving further details. -
US President Donald Trump poses for selfies. AFP -
US President Donald Trump serves Thanksgiving dinner. AFP -
President Donald Trump, left, listens as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. AP -
President Donald Trump speaks during a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit to the troops at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. AP -
U.S. President Donald Trump eats dinner with US troops. AP
The ICC's investigation with respect to Israel is centred on crimes committed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the officials responsible for Israel’s illegal settlement programme.
The administration of President Joe Biden supports reforms "to help the court better achieve its core mission of punishing and deterring atrocity crimes" and may co-operate with the ICC in "exceptional cases", the State Department spokesman said.
