The current geopolitical turmoil and the aftershocks of Donald Trump’s re-election have made it clear that blindly following the United States cannot serve as a path to a sustainable and principled European foreign policy. The fact that the U.S. is calling for—if not outright threatening—the abandonment of the international legal framework established in the aftermath of World War II should serve as a wake-up call. Europe cannot position itself as a global advocate for order and legality while succumbing to pressures that risk turning it into an international outlaw.
Notably, the European Union’s own diplomatic service underscores the importance of upholding international law, stating:
“The EU views the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the cornerstone in the fight against impunity and to help victims of atrocities to achieve justice.
The EU is resolved to continue protecting the independence of the Court and the integrity of the Rome Statute. The EU promotes the national implementation of the Rome Statute and its principle of complementarity, in particular by strengthening national justice systems. The EU also encourages the universal ratification of the Rome Statute and full cooperation with the Court“
Borell’s last speech
Josep Borrell, the outgoing High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasized these principles during his recent keynote speech at the Two-State Coalition meeting for Israel and Palestine in Nicosia. He described the current challenges and outlined a path forward:
“…We cannot pretend to hold a rule based international order and not implement the decision of the International Criminal Court. We cannot pick and choose the decisions we like and those we do not like. And we must ensure that the ICC is able to function without the impediment of any third party and without threats and intimidation like the one I have mentioned at the beginning that certainly terrifies me, because it is not coming from an authoritarian state, it is not coming from a Third World dictatorship; it is coming from the US Senate. Accountability has to be comprehensive and impartial…”
These principles should serve as the foundation for a cohesive and federal European foreign policy if Europe is to defend its core values effectively.