The big three against the ICC?
Today, a Financial Times report did the rounds, in which is alleged that Xi Jinping would have told Donald J. Trump during last week’s talks that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘might end up regretting his invasion of Ukraine’.
That was called out as fake news both by the Chinese and by Trump himself.
This report seems timed to coincide with Putin’s arrival in Beijing for a state visit.
However, in this same report we find a nugget that seems much more plausible, and that has not, so far, been denied by any party.
“During his summit with Xi, Trump also suggested that the US, China and Russia should join forces to combat the ICC, saying their interests were aligned, according to the people familiar with the talks.
The White House declined to comment on the ICC comment. But the Trump administration has previously voiced strong opposition to the ICC, which it accuses of engaging in politicization, abuse of power, disregard for US national sovereignty and illegitimate judicial over-reach. Some officials have described it as an instrument for so-called lawfare against America.”
News9 Live reports:
“Trump argued that the three major powers had shared interests in opposing the Hague-based court. His administration has long accused the ICC of overreach and politicisation.
For anyone watching global politics, this is one of those moments where the room matters as much as the words. A US president, sitting with China’s leader, reportedly floating a common line with Russia against an international court. That is not a small diplomatic footnote.”
Hellbound and Down 