EU Foreign Policy chief Kaja Kallas on 24 August said she felt “deep regret” at Washington’s decision to impose sanctions on senior staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement issued through the European External Action Service (EEAS), Kallas said the EU “once again deeply regrets the decision to impose sanctions on the two deputy Prosecutors and on two judges of the ICC.”

She warned that “This decision may impact the functioning of the Office of the Prosecutor and ongoing investigations.”

Kallas insisted the bloc remained committed to backing the ICC and pledged continued “support and contribution” to shield its personnel from external pressures.
The first target of US sanctions was former ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who in February was personally named in an executive order by US President Donald Trump. Khan and his family were placed under economic and travel sanctions, with any US assets frozen and entry into the country prohibited.

“Attacks or threats against the Court, elected officials, personnel, and those cooperating with the Court are not acceptable. The ICC must be able to work independently and impartially,” the statement read.

She urged all EU states to ensure “full cooperation” with the tribunal, including the execution of arrest warrants against those accused of war crimes – such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant – and the signing of voluntary agreements.

She added that Brussels was “monitoring the implications of the executive order and will assess possible further steps.”

The measures from Washington, announced the previous week, targeted two ICC judges and two deputy prosecutors. They came after earlier sanctions placed on four judges in June and the Court’s chief prosecutor earlier in the year.

Kallas herself had stepped into the role of EU foreign policy chief in 2024, after resigning as Estonia’s prime minister. Her appointment, replacing Josep Borrell, was warmly received in Tel Aviv. Israeli officials voiced relief at her elevation, pointing to her record since 7 October of defending Israel’s assault on Gaza as “self-defense against terrorism.”

She also condemned Iran’s April 2024 retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel as “unjustified.”

An Israeli diplomatic source described her selection as a “turning point” in EU–Israel relations, noting that her approach contrasted with the more critical stances of previous EU foreign policy heads.