Arabic version: أستراليا تنضم إلى انتقاد العقوبات على المحكمة الجنائية الدولية

According to ABC News, Australia has joined a statement by several nations condemning US sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court, after its name was added to the declaration late on Monday.

Japan, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom issued the statement late on Friday. It reaffirmed their “continued and unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the ICC” after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced measures freezing the court’s US assets and cutting it off from American companies.

The countries said they regretted and strongly disagreed with the sanctions, warning they could significantly affect the court’s work, staff and their families. Australia was not included when the statement was first released, drawing criticism from legal experts.

A federal government spokesperson said Australia was invited to join only after the statement had been published and told the Netherlands on Sunday that it was willing to add its name. Officials from European and Western countries said the process took time, while one said Canberra had adopted a more careful and low-profile approach than other US allies.

Professor Catherine Renshaw of the University of Western Sydney described Australia’s initial response as “sluggish” but welcomed its eventual decision to join. She said the sanctions would create a difficult problem because US companies and financial institutions provide central legal, travel and banking services to the court. The government is also working with Australians employed by the ICC as they consider the implications of the measures and a 180-day grace period.