ICC terminates Axa insurance deal as US sanctions loom

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has terminated its contract with French insurer Axa as the court faces the prospect of further sanctions from the United States.

The contract ended immediately, and the ICC is expected to move to another insurance provider. The decision was first reported by the Financial Times.

The move comes as US President Donald Trump's administration continues to increase pressure on the Hague-based court, which has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other individuals.

The Wall Street Journal reported late last month that the White House was preparing additional sanctions against the ICC. The US administration has already imposed sanctions on more than a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors, including the court's president, in measures announced in August.

Trump also criticised the ICC during last week's United Nations General Assembly, describing it as an "evil" and "a rogue institution" and calling on countries to withdraw from the court.

Naoero, the Pacific island nation formerly known as Nauru, is the only country reported to have followed Trump's call.

The Trump administration has argued that the ICC exceeds its authority by exercising jurisdiction over nationals of countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court. The United States and Israel are among those countries.

The potential impact of further US sanctions reportedly became a concern for the ICC and Axa because restrictions could prevent the court from conducting transactions involving US dollars.

According to the Financial Times, Axa and the ICC had been discussing the issue for several months and were unable to establish an arrangement that would allow the insurer to continue its relationship with the court without relying on a European blocking statute.

Such laws are intended to protect European companies from the effects of certain sanctions imposed by countries outside the European Union.

An ICC spokesperson confirmed that the insurer and the court had agreed to end their contractual relationship.

"Axa and the Court have decided by mutual agreement to terminate the contractual relationship," the spokesperson said.

The ICC is now expected to arrange insurance coverage through another provider.

The development comes as the court faces growing pressure from Washington over its investigations and proceedings involving nationals of the United States and Israel.

Neither Axa nor the ICC provided further comment on the reported termination.