Global Intelligence Summary

On 24 July, Venezuelan government officials announced that the country would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia stated that the decision was motivated by the court’s “geographical bias” which disproportionately targets countries in Africa and Latin America. Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez reportedly ordered the decision.

The US State Department released a message in support of the Venezuelan decision, stating that it supports “American-led efforts to dismantle the corrupt and worthless ICC”. The State Department said in a statement that the ICC had conducted a failed investigation into Nicolas Maduro since 2018, the former Venezuelan President who was captured in a US raid in Caracas in January 2026. The statement added that “it is time to dismantle the ICC”, and called on all ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

Solace Global Assessment: 

The current US administration has intensified efforts to oppose the ICC, particularly after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials due to the war in Gaza. In February 2025, the US imposed sanctions on senior ICC officials, and has since sought to persuade other partners to withdraw from the Hague-based organisation.

The decision almost certainly reflects growing US influence on the Venezuelan government, which interim President Delcy Rodriguez has led since the removal of Maduro. While most of Venezuela’s leadership has remained in place, the interim government is currently de facto dependent on the US, with its budget being largely administered from Washington. This dependency has almost certainly deepened following the late-June earthquake that caused widespread destruction in Venezuela, with the US pledging USD 300 million to relief efforts and deploying 2,000 troops to the country.

On the same day as the ICC decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that negotiations regarding the post-Maduro political transition will begin in August. This will reportedly include both current government figures and leaders of the opposition, although former presidential candidate María Corina Machado is currently not set to attend. While it is unclear if the ICC decision was linked to the upcoming political transition, the Rodríguez government likely has an interest in signalling to Washington its willingness to cooperate on key security and geopolitical issues ahead of any major leadership changes.

There is a realistic possibility that Venezuela’s decision will be followed by other LATAM states, who have increasingly aligned their foreign policies with the US or remain heavily dependent on Washington for economic and security support. Colombia’s incoming right-wing President-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has pledged to overhaul the country’s diplomatic services, and has discussed the idea of leaving international organisations such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR). There is a realistic possibility that either the new Colombian government or those of other states that are seeking closer relations with the US will join the Washington-led “push” against the ICC.