ICC ends Axa insurance contract amid reported US sanctions concerns
The court says the agreement ended by mutual consent, with a replacement health insurer yet to be named. The Financial Times linked the decision to concern about possible US sanctions.
The International Criminal Court has ended its health insurance contract with French insurer Axa with immediate effect and plans to move to another provider. The ICC spokesperson told Reuters the termination was by mutual agreement.
The Financial Times first reported the change. It said the ICC and Axa were concerned that possible US sanctions could prevent the insurer from doing business with the court. The replacement provider has not been identified.
The Financial Times also reported that months of talks failed to find a solution without recourse to a European blocking statute, a mechanism intended to protect European firms from sanctions imposed by third countries.
The change comes amid US criticism of the ICC. The Trump administration has already sanctioned more than a dozen of the court’s judges and prosecutors, including its president, and has argued that the court oversteps its authority by claiming jurisdiction over citizens of countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House was preparing further sanctions. The supplied reporting does not establish whether those measures will be imposed.
