More Heated, the US Attacks the ICC Again and Urges Latin America to Follow Suit

JAKARTA - United States (US) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American countries that are part of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC) to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Hegseth made the move in his speech in Panama, Wednesday (12/8/2026), accusing the ICC of undermining the national sovereignty of member states.

"I strongly encourage every member of the ACCC to withdraw from the ICC and reject their attempts to usurp the sovereignty of your government and courts," Hegseth said.

The Reason for the US Refusing the ICC's Authority

Hegseth emphasized that every country must have full authority to deploy military forces and protect its citizens based on its own national laws and constitutions.

Through the "warrior culture" initiative he pioneered, Hegseth believes that soldiers should only be accountable to domestic rules.

"Our countries defend sovereignty and the ability to deploy our own soldiers to defend ourselves. We are only accountable to our own citizens and our own constitutions, not unelected international bureaucrats," Hegseth said.

He also accused the ICC of launching "an unlawful power grab" by seeking to claim jurisdiction over US military personnel and their partner countries in various military operations. According to him, unnecessary international rules actually force soldiers to fight with "one hand tied behind their back," while the military's main priority is lethality.

Colombia Officially Joins ACCC and Partners with the US Military

On the same occasion, Hegseth announced the accession of Colombia as the 19th member of the ACCC.

Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella - who is often nicknamed President "El Tigre" by US President Donald Trump - has asked for US military support to eradicate drug terrorism in his territory.

"Through the newly inaugurated president, Colombia has asked the Department of War to join the fight against drug terrorism, by allowing joint military operations to destroy terrorist networks," said Hegseth.

Washington's Pressure on the ICC Intensifies

Hegseth's hardline stance adds to Washington's long list of pressure on the ICC. Previously, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly criticized the ICC's legitimacy by calling the institution "invalid" because it claimed jurisdiction over non-member states.

US President Donald Trump said Rubio's diplomatic move was aimed at defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others now facing the international tribunal's probe.

The United States itself is not a state party to the ICC Rome Statute and has consistently rejected the jurisdiction of the institution. Tensions between the US and the ICC have escalated since the ICC issued an arrest warrant in November 2024 against Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.