Venezuela notifies UN of withdrawal from ICC, alleging 'bias'

Venezuela notifies UN of ICC withdrawal, citing geographical bias

Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging the court shows a "demonstrated geographical bias" against countries in the Global South. The announcement, made by Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia on July 24, 2026, follows a December 2025 vote by Venezuela's National Assembly to cancel the country's commitments to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.

"Venezuela considers that the Court's actions reflect a demonstrated geographical bias, which has disproportionately concentrated its work on African and Latin American countries, to the detriment of the Global South," Plasencia said in a social media post, as reported by Al Jazeera and The Hindu. He said the instructions came from interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who described the decision as "firm and irrevocable."

Acting President Rodriguez echoed the criticism in a public event, saying the ICC had been "so heavily politicized to attack the Venezuelan people and the Venezuelan state that we do not believe in that type of organization or institution," according to reports from the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu.

Coverage comparison

The story has been reported by Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu — World, with all three outlets carrying the core fact of Venezuela's withdrawal notification and the government's stated reasoning. Al Jazeera's coverage also noted that the United States quickly welcomed the decision, with the US Department of State praising Rodriguez for joining "American-led efforts to dismantle the corrupt and worthless ICC" and calling on all ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

The Jerusalem Post and The Hindu also reported that the ICC has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela since at least 2017, with the court opening a formal investigation in 2021. Al Jazeera additionally cited analysts who described the withdrawal as a sign of Venezuela's rapidly changing foreign policy under Rodriguez, bringing Caracas closer to Washington.

Key claims

• Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, according to statements by Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia reported by Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu.
• The government justified the move by alleging a "geographical bias" within the court, claiming it disproportionately targets nations in the Global South, specifically across Africa and Latin America. This claim was attributed to Plasencia by all three outlets.
• Venezuela's National Assembly voted in December 2025 to cancel the country's commitments to the Rome Statute, as reported by Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu.
• The ICC has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela since at least 2017, according to reports from the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu. The investigation was opened formally in 2021 by then-prosecutor Karim Khan.
• The United States has pledged to "disable" the ICC, as reported by Al Jazeera, and has welcomed Venezuela's withdrawal.
• The ICC closed its office in Caracas in January 2025, citing a lack of cooperation from the Venezuelan government then led by former President Nicolas Maduro, according to The Hindu.
• The United States removed former President Nicolas Maduro from power in January, a fact reported by both the Jerusalem Post and The Hindu.

Perspectives

Venezuelan government

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez and Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia have characterized the ICC as biased and politicized, arguing that the court disproportionately targets countries in the Global South and has been instrumentalized to attack Venezuela. Rodriguez described the decision to withdraw as "firm and irrevocable."

United States government

The US Department of State welcomed Venezuela's withdrawal, praising Rodriguez for joining "American-led efforts to dismantle the corrupt and worthless ICC," as reported by Al Jazeera. The department called on all ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

ICC and analysts

The ICC has not issued a public statement on Venezuela's withdrawal as of the reporting, but the court has previously defended its mandate. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera noted that while the ICC has long faced criticism for disproportionately targeting countries in the Global South, some argue that criticism is less persuasive today. The withdrawal is seen as a blow to the court, which is already facing challenges to its future.