Dirk Gotink

A group of EU lawmakers is pressing the European Commission to shield officials of the International Criminal Court from US sanctions, calling for the bloc's blocking statute to be applied automatically. Dutch lawmaker Dirk Gotink said waiting to counter such measures 'stems from the time when we thought that the Americans were still our friends.' The push highlights growing transatlantic friction over Washington's penalties targeting the court, which has pursued warrants against Israeli and US-allied figures.