Chinanews.com, April 3rd – On April 2nd, local time, the U.S. State Department issued a press release saying that U.S. President Biden revoked the previous executive order imposed by the Trump administration on economic sanctions and visa restrictions against personnel related to the International Criminal Court.
Biden revoked Executive Order 13928 concerning freezing the property of persons associated with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the announcement said.
As a result, the Trump administration’s sanctions on the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatu Bensouda, and the Director of the Jurisdiction, Supplemental and Cooperation Department of the Prosecutor’s Office, Fakiso Mochochochoko, have been lifted.
The State Department also terminated the visa restriction policy for some ICC personnel in 2019.
The announcement pointed out that after evaluation, the measures taken were inappropriate and invalid.
At the same time, the U.S. State Department pointed out that it still strongly opposes the behavior of the International Criminal Court involving the situation in Afghanistan and Palestine.
However, it believes that the relevant cases can be better resolved by engaging with all stakeholders in the procedure of the International Criminal Court than the imposition of sanctions.
On April 3, 2020, the International Criminal Court ruled that it approved the investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity involving the Taliban, Afghan security forces, U.S. military and intelligence personnel in Afghanistan. Bensouda has said that there is enough evidence that American personnel committed ill-treatment and personal dignity in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004.
In June 2020, then-US President Trump issued an executive order saying that the United States is not a party to the International Criminal Court. The investigation of the conduct of U.S. military and intelligence personnel in Afghanistan threatens U.S. sovereignty and national security and foreign policy, and the U.S. government will impose sanctions on those involved.
