‘Stop Quoting Laws To Men With Swords’: Marco Rubio Delivers Speech Slamming Global Institutions

Marco Rubio told an audience of lawyers that the International Criminal Court has no authority to enforce its rulings against Americans, invoking the phrase “Stop quoting laws to men with swords.” His speech framed the court and other international institutions as unaccountable bodies that, he argued, use international law to challenge US foreign policy.

Rubio cited US strikes on suspected cartel boats in the Caribbean and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as actions criticised under international law. The address followed US sanctions on the ICC in October; the United States signed but never ratified the treaty establishing the court and is not among its member states. The ICC has no police force and relies on member countries to arrest people it indicts.