The US attempted to enlist its NATO allies in a campaign to “systematically dismantle” the International Criminal Court (ICC), Politico reports.

During a closed-door meeting of NATO’s 32 ambassadors in Brussels in mid-July, U.S. envoy Matthew Whitaker asked NATO countries for help in disassembling the international body, and urged them to leave the ICC’s founding document, the Rome Statute, according to three NATO diplomats who were granted anonymity to speak freely.

Whitaker ended his intervention by saying: “We will be watching closely who stands with America,” the three diplomats said.

In response to Whitaker's remarks, which were raised as an agenda side point to an otherwise regular meeting, France and the Netherlands defended the ICC and signaled their opposition to the move, the diplomats said.

In parallel to Whitaker's comments, the U.S. mission sent out a paper to NATO delegations telling them: “The United States will systematically dismantle the capabilities of the ICC … we firmly request that you immediately take steps to withdraw,” according to details of the document shared with Politico.