Germany Rejects Trump's Call to Quit the International Criminal Court

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has rejected a call from US President Donald Trump for Berlin to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that Germany continues to view the tribunal as an essential institution for upholding international law and protecting human rights.

Speaking in response to Trump's remarks urging European allies to abandon the court, Wadephul said Germany "stands by" the ICC, according to Anadolu Agency. The comments come amid renewed friction between Washington and international justice bodies over the court's jurisdiction and its past investigations involving US allies.

The ICC, based in The Hague, is a permanent tribunal established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute that created the court and has periodically clashed with it, including over investigations touching on US personnel and allied nations.

Germany, by contrast, is among the court's founding states parties and has been one of its most consistent financial and political backers in Europe. Wadephul's statement signals that Berlin intends to maintain that position despite pressure from Washington.

The disagreement highlights a broader divide between the United States and many of its European allies over the role of international judicial institutions, an issue that has periodically strained transatlantic relations in recent years.

No further details on Trump's original comments or Wadephul's remarks, including whether the issue was raised in direct talks between the two governments, were included in the reporting.