UN Vote: Trinidad breaks with ICC tradition
The Caribbean nation abstained from a resolution supporting the court, a move that contrasts with its historical ties to the body's founding.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Trinidad and Tobago abstained on Thursday from a United Nations resolution that supports the annual work of the International Criminal Court. This marks the first time the Caribbean nation has not voted in favor of a major ICC action, signaling a shift in the country's long-standing diplomatic position.
The decision lands less than two weeks after Trinidad joined the United States and other nations in voting against the lifting of the decades-old economic embargo on Cuba. That previous vote aligned Trinidad with a bloc that has recently moved to challenge international institutions. The abstention on the ICC report breaks with the tradition established by former President and Prime Minister Arthur Robinson, who served as one of the court's early judges and championed its creation more than 20 years ago.
The court’s annual report details its monitoring of war crimes globally. The US, led by the Trump administration, has campaigned vigorously to undermine the ICC. Washington fears that top defense officials and soldiers could face trials for overseas military actions. This includes the fatal bombing of a school in Iran earlier this year, which killed dozens of children. The US has argued the court lacks authority to charge its personnel and has sanctioned nearly 20 ICC judges.
Ninety-three countries voted for the resolution. Thirteen countries voted against it, including the US, Russia, Israel, and Argentina. Thirty-six countries, including Trinidad, abstained. In the Caribbean, Guyana and Barbados voted in favor of the resolution. Jamaica, Antigua, and Dominica did not vote because their delegates were not present during the roll call.
Antigua and Dominica have faced pressure from Washington to comply with political demands, including accepting large numbers of non-national deportees. The State Department has imposed strict restrictions on tourist visa issuance for nationals of these two countries. Reports indicate that no such visas were issued to applicants from Antigua and Dominica up to earlier this year. Until this week, Trinidad’s support for the ICC was considered a foregone conclusion due to the country’s strong links to the court’s establishment and the legacy of Robinson, who died more than a decade ago.
The UN resolution serves as a procedural step to support the court’s continued operations and reporting. The vote reflects a growing division among member states regarding the court’s mandate and its relationship with major powers. Trinidad’s move places it in the abstention column alongside nations that are neither fully supportive of the court nor actively opposing its existence.
