Venezuela notifies UN of withdrawal from International Criminal Court, alleging bias

Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its 'irrevocable' decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia. The government justified the move by alleging a 'geographical bias' within the court, claiming it disproportionately targets nations in the Global South, particularly Africa and Latin America. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez echoed the criticism, stating the ICC has been 'heavily politicized' against Venezuela. The withdrawal had been anticipated since December 2024, when Venezuela's National Assembly voted to repeal the Rome Statute ratification law, prior to the US removal of former President Nicolas Maduro. The ICC had been investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed by Venezuelan officials since 2017, but closed its Caracas office in January 2025 due to lack of cooperation. The announcement coincided with ICC member states voting to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies. The Trump administration, which has sought to dismantle the ICC, praised Rodriguez's leadership and stated Venezuela is not ready for elections.