What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC?

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia announced on Friday that the country had formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the foundational treaty of the International Criminal Court based in The Hague. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez issued the instructions, with Plasencia characterizing the decision as "firm and irrevocable."

Plasencia cited the ICC's "demonstrated geographical bias," arguing the court disproportionately targets nations in Africa and Latin America. The United States promptly welcomed the decision, with the State Department praising Rodriguez for joining "American-led efforts to dismantle the corrupt and worthless ICC" and calling on all member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute. The department noted the court had spent years investigating former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without results.

Analysts view Venezuela's departure as reflecting the country's shifting foreign policy under Rodriguez, bringing Caracas closer to Washington while further weakening an institution already under significant strain. However, Mark Kersten, a professor of human rights and international criminal law at the University of the Fraser Valley, noted that the bias argument carries less weight today, given the court now pursues cases involving Russia's Vladimir Putin, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, and investigations beyond Global South contexts.

The ICC confirmed it had not yet received formal notification through the UN treaty office. Under the Rome Statute, withdrawal takes effect one year after notification and does not affect ongoing investigations or matters already before the court. Experts confirmed the ICC can continue investigating alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela despite the withdrawal. Laura Dib, Venezuela programme director at the Washington Office on Latin America, expressed concern that the withdrawal adds to hopelessness among Venezuelans seeking accountability, particularly given the case's slow progress and repeated attacks on the court, including US sanctions against judges and prosecutors.