Paris: France reaffirmed its support Thursday for the International Criminal Court (ICC), rejecting claims by the US that the court poses a threat to national sovereignty. Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux stated that the ICC is not a threat to states because it prosecutes individuals accused of the world's most serious crimes, rather than governments.

According to Anadolu Agency, Confavreux emphasized that the stance of France remains unchanged in its support for the ICC, highlighting the court's role in resilience and combating impunity for the gravest crimes. He condemned any attacks or threats against ICC staff, officials, and others involved in the court's work as unacceptable.

The reaffirmation from France follows comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who criticized the ICC for allegedly threatening US sovereignty and announced that Washington would encourage other countries to withdraw from the court. Additionally, the US State Department has initiated efforts to limit the ICC's ability to challenge American sovereignty.

Established in 2002 and based in The Hague, the ICC was created to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. While the US is not a member of the court, France remains a steadfast supporter of its mission.