Sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its senior officials have severely disrupted the tribunal’s ability to function, staff members say, complicating its mission to investigate and prosecute war crimes around the world.

The sweeping measures, issued via executive order in February, were introduced in response to the ICC’s controversial arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, announced in late 2024. The sanctions specifically targeted ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, barring him from entering the United States and freezing his personal assets.

ICC officials now report that the sanctions have gone beyond symbolic gestures, severely limiting their operational capabilities. Staff say basic tasks have become “near impossible,” with work across various investigations — including ongoing probes in Sudan and Ukraine — now effectively stalled.

The court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has reportedly lost access to essential services, including his official Microsoft email account. Additionally, several of his personal bank accounts in the United Kingdom have been blocked. The U.S. order threatens fines and prison time for individuals or institutions providing Khan with any financial, material, or technological support. American nationals working for the court have also been warned they may face arrest if they return to the U.S.

The investigation into war crimes in Sudan, including charges of genocide against former President Omar al-Bashir, has also been paused. The prosecutor overseeing the case, Eric Iverson, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. seeking legal protection from the sanctions. His attorney, Allison Miller, said the restrictions have made it impossible for him to perform “basic lawyer functions.”

Three lawsuits have been filed in U.S. courts by ICC-affiliated staff and consultants, arguing the sanctions infringe upon their constitutional rights, including freedom of expression.

The ICC’s challenges have been compounded by a separate scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct against Khan himself. A Wall Street Journal report revealed accusations from a Malaysian staffer who alleged coercion and sexual assault across several ICC missions. Khan’s legal team has denied all claims, calling them “categorically untrue.”

Further scrutiny has followed, with allegations that Khan retaliated against staff members who supported the accuser. An internal UN oversight investigation into the claims is reportedly underway, with findings expected in the coming months.

As the ICC faces mounting external and internal pressures, its future credibility and capacity to pursue international justice may hang in the balance.

Tensions between France and Algeria have escalated further this week, as both nations continue a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats in a worsening diplomatic standoff.

France announced on Wednesday that it will expel an unspecified number of Algerian diplomats in direct response to Algeria’s decision to remove 15 French officials from the country over the weekend. This follows an earlier episode in mid-April, when Algeria expelled 12 French diplomatic personnel, prompting France to retaliate by expelling an equal number of Algerian officials and recalling its ambassador from Algiers.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the latest move during an interview with BFM TV, stating that Algerian officials holding diplomatic passports but lacking valid visas to operate in France would be required to leave. He declined to specify the exact number of expulsions, saying, “It’s not so much a question of numbers, it’s a question of quality. Algeria wanted to send back our agents — we’re sending back theirs.”

On Tuesday, the French Foreign Ministry summoned Algeria’s chargé d’affaires to formally notify him of the decision. The diplomatic escalation came just two days after Algeria had informed France’s chargé d’affaires in Algiers that 15 French civil servants on temporary assignments would be expelled.

While Algeria’s Foreign Ministry has yet to release an official statement, the state-run Algerian Press Agency (APS) reported that the expelled French personnel were appointed under what it described as “irregular conditions.”

France responded with a sharply worded statement accusing Algeria of breaching a 2013 bilateral agreement, which governs the movement and duties of officials holding diplomatic, official, or service passports. The statement condemned Algeria’s “new conditions of access” for French officials and described the expulsion as unjustified.

Barrot characterized Algeria’s action as “incomprehensible and brutal,” and insisted that France’s response was “immediate, firm, and proportionate.” He added that further measures could be taken depending on the evolution of the situation.

The dispute adds to a growing list of irritants in Franco-Algerian relations. Key points of contention include Algeria’s refusal to repatriate nationals facing deportation from France and the continued detention of dissident Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal.

Relations took a significant downturn in July 2024, when France expressed support for Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara — a move that angered Algiers, a staunch supporter of Sahrawi self-determination.

Although French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune shared a reportedly positive phone conversation in early April, hopes of a diplomatic thaw appear to have been short-lived.

The European Union has launched a new initiative to deepen defence cooperation with Ukraine, drawing on the war-torn country’s battlefield experience to strengthen European capabilities in key areas such as drone production.

The EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Task Force held its inaugural meeting on Monday, aiming to enhance industrial collaboration between Kyiv and Brussels. The effort was announced by European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius during the second EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum.

Kubilius emphasized the urgency of integrating Ukraine’s rapidly evolving defence sector into Europe’s broader security framework, particularly in light of its advancements in unmanned systems and supply chain resilience.

“Today, we announce the creation of the inter-institutional EU-Ukraine Task Force,” he said. “Ukrainian and European experts will now work together to develop joint projects and facilitate procurement processes that strengthen both our defence industries.”

The task force will focus on priority capabilities, especially explosives and drones. According to Kubilius, Ukraine’s innovation in drone production has positioned it as a global leader in the field. “We need to learn from Ukraine how to create a drone production and operation infrastructure,” he said, asserting that Europe stands to gain even more from this integration than Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has increased its annual defence production capacity to €35 billion — a 35-fold rise. Kubilius highlighted Ukraine’s ability to deliver modern, cost-effective defence solutions, describing its companies as “fast” and capable of producing at “half the price” of their European counterparts.

Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the forum that the ongoing conflict would be remembered as “the first world drone war.” He noted Ukraine’s success in developing autonomous targeting systems and swarming drone capabilities, technologies he said the country is willing to share with European allies.

“We’re here to build the arsenal of the free world together,” Kamyshin declared.

The EU is set to invest heavily in its defence sector over the next four years, including up to €650 billion in new fiscal allocations and €150 billion through a new loan programme dubbed SAFE. The initiative is designed to support joint procurement and could benefit Ukrainian firms as well.

Talks on the SAFE programme are expected to conclude by the end of May, with disbursements likely to begin by early 2026. Meanwhile, a broader strategic planning effort, including a new Industry Outlook based on member states’ capability targets, is set to be unveiled in June.

“Peace through strength will come from production power and brain power,” Kubilius said. “To stop Putin, we need to produce more, innovate more, and we need to do that together: in the EU and with Ukraine.”

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