Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia announced on Friday that Venezuela is formally withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, citing what the government characterizes as institutional prejudice. The move follows a directive from interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed control following the removal of Nicolas Maduro by United States forces in January.
Plasencia stated that the nation has communicated this irrevocable choice to the United Nations. According to the minister, the Hague-based tribunal displays a clear geographical bias by disproportionately targeting Latin American and African nations. This decision follows years of friction, including the December 2025 parliamentary move to overturn the Rome Statute after the court shuttered its Caracas office.
The court is currently conducting an inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity linked to government crackdowns on protestors dating back to 2014. Additionally, the ICC recently rejected Venezuelan claims that American sanctions against the country constitute crimes against humanity. This latest diplomatic shift aligns with a broader period of instability for the tribunal, as member states recently voted to remove prosecutor Karim Khan amid sexual assault allegations, which he intends to contest.
