Netherlands denies active talks with US over curbing ICC powers to lift sanctions

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Netherlands denies active talks with US over curbing ICC powers to lift sanctions Submitted by Sondos Asem on Fri, 11/13/2026 - 16:06 Dutch government says no concrete proposals…

The Netherlands is not currently in active negotiations with the US over amendments to the Rome Statute or any response to the sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court (ICC), a spokesperson told Middle East Eye.

The official statement from the Dutch government on Friday comes after vague comments from Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen on whether US demands to shield heads of state and restrict the court's jurisdiction over nationals of non-member states were under consideration.

Berendsen's answers did not confirm the reported proposals to parliament, nor did he say whether the government would reject them.

The question by Hanneke van der Werf MP, from the Democrats 66 party, concerned a report by the Rights Forum on alleged Dutch discussions with the US regarding possible amendments to the ICC's founding treaty.

The proposed amendments included immunity for heads of state and government, excluding nationals of countries outside the court's founding treaty from its jurisdiction, and weakening its ability to intervene when national authorities fail to prosecute.

A foreign ministry spokesperson, who preferred not to be named, said the report was not accurate.

"The article published by The Rights Forum does not reflect the Netherlands’ position. The article also claims that various issues are currently under active negotiation. That is not the case," they said in an emailed statement to MEE.

The spokesperson, however, referred to the closing statement of last year's Assembly of States Parties, the court's governing body, when it was decided "by consensus" that member states should engage in dialogue with non-state parties.

"We are currently exploring the scope for such a dialogue," said the spokesperson as ICC member states are scheduled to meet in The Hague from 30 November to 7 December.

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