OTTAWA, Aug. 6: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), pledging that Canada will remain committed to the court despite reported pressure from the United States on allied nations to withdraw their membership and financial support.
Speaking on Thursday, Carney described Canada as a “proud member” of the ICC, emphasizing that Ottawa supports the court through funding, personnel, shared values, and concrete actions.
“We support the ICC financially, through our people, through our values, and through our actions. We will continue to do so,” Carney said.
He stressed that the ICC’s mission has become even more important as global instability continues to grow.
The Trump administration has been a vocal critic of the ICC, particularly after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza. The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
The controversy has intensified in recent years. Former ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who sought the warrants against Israeli officials in 2024, was recently dismissed following allegations of misconduct. In August 2025, the United States also imposed sanctions on Canadian ICC Judge Kimberly Prost in connection with an ICC investigation involving U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan. She was among four ICC officials targeted by the sanctions.
Canada’s latest statement underscores its continued commitment to the ICC and the rules-based international legal order, despite growing political pressure from Washington.
