Germany continues to present the Internationaler Strafgerichtshof as a civilizational achievement, yet the court currently sits without a German judge for the first time since its 2002 founding.
Political pressure mounts on the court
U.S. officials have intensified criticism of ICC judges, and former President Donald Trump recently called for all member states to withdraw from the tribunal.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig repeatedly emphasizes that the court must hold perpetrators of the gravest crimes accountable, echoing the nation’s long-standing support for international criminal justice.
The country’s commitment traces back to the Nuremberg trials, which helped shape modern concepts of war crimes and gave the nation a historic responsibility to back the institution.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul cancelled a planned visit to The Hague at the end of September, a move seen as a signal of diplomatic caution.
Since the ICC’s establishment, no German judge has served on the bench, a gap that emerged after the departure of Judge Bertram Schmitt in the summer of 2025.
The court now handles arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Hamas commanders, placing it at the center of high-profile geopolitical disputes.
Germany remains the second-largest financial contributor to the ICC, highlighting the contrast between its funding role and the lack of judicial representation.
Recent sanctions have targeted judges from France and Senegal, imposing travel bans and freezing assets such as bank accounts and even subscription services.
After Schmitt’s exit, the government pushed the candidacy of German jurist Ute Hohoff to the side, leaving the upcoming December election in New York without a German nomination.
The Foreign Office explained in early 2026 that the administration prioritized a bid for a seat on the UN-Sicherheitsrat over pursuing an ICC judgeship, a strategy that ultimately failed.
Wadephul had intended to use a potential Security Council seat to position the country as a leading “advocate of international law,” a goal now complicated by the absence of German judges on the court.
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