German foreign minister rallies behind ICC amid Trump threats

Supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) is part of Germany's "historic responsibility," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday at the beginning of a visit to The Hague, vowing continued backing for the international court amid increased pressure from the US.

Wadephul's visit to the seat of the ICC comes as the United States has stepped up its attacks on the court, which has been responsible for prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity since 2002.

"Germany will do its part to ensure that the ICC remains able to act even under pressure," Wadephul said in the Netherlands.

International rules are only as strong as the willingness to stand up for them, Germany's top diplomat warned. "Particularly at a time when international institutions are increasingly being called into question, we must stand firmly by their side, together with our partners around the world."

Wadephul also pointed to Germany's Nazi past, when the judiciary was controlled by Adolf Hitler's regime, noting that the country has experienced first hand what it means when states flout the rule of law.

"Support for the ICC is therefore not merely a matter of foreign policy for Germany. It is also part of our historical responsibility," he added.

Trump steps up pressure

The Trump administration has put sanctions on members of the court mainly due to its arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza war.

Last week, US President Donald Trump called on the international community to withdraw en masse from the ICC in a speech at the UN General Debate last week.

The ICC has 125 member states. Besides the US, Israel, Russia and Turkey are among the countries that do not recognize the court.

The court only intervenes when the states concerned refuse to conduct investigations themselves or are unable to do so.

Meetings with ICC officials

Wadephul is due to meet with ICC President Tomoko Akane and deputy chief prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, in The Hague.

The US government has imposed sanctions on Akane, saying she has repeatedly been involved in arrests or investigations into public officials whose governments have not consented to the ICC's jurisdiction.

As part of his visit to the Netherlands, Germany's top diplomat will also meet with his Dutch counterpart Tom Berendsen to discuss the European Union's next budget, as well as military cooperation and support for Ukraine.

Germany and the Netherlands are part of a coalition of EU member states, along with Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, which are resisting the European Commission's planned budget of €1.76 trillion ($2 trillion) for the years 2028-34.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the proposal to be cut by several hundred billion euros. EU member states are aiming to agree on the financial framework by the end of this year.