WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered sanctions against any official at the International Criminal Court who investigates US troops, ramping up pressure to stop its case into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
In an executive order, Trump said the United States would block all US property and assets of anyone in the Hague-based tribunal involved in probing or prosecuting US troops.
"We cannot - we will not - stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement to reporters.
"I have a message to many close allies around the world - your people could be next, especially those from NATO countries who fought terrorism in Afghanistan right alongside of us."
Attorney General Bill Barr alleged without giving detail that Russia and other adversaries of the United States have been "manipulating" the court to serve their own agenda.
Using the language of Trump's "America First" principle, Barr said that the administration was trying to bring accountability to an international institution.
"This institution has become, in practice, little more than a political tool employed by unaccountable international elites," he said.
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