US President Donald Trump gave a green light to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court and travel restrictions on ICC employees directly involved in the investigation of possible war crimes by the US military in Afghanistan without US consent, WSJ reported.

A senior administration official said the ICC investigation violates US national sovereignty and said Russia could encourage accusations against US personnel. The official refused to provide details of the alleged Russian influence on the ICC.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and genocide. It has 123 member states that recognize its jurisdiction.

The United States has never been a member of the International Criminal Court. Administrations were concerned about the possibility of political persecution of US troops and officials for alleged war crimes and other atrocities. The US has made promises from most members of the court that they will not seek such prosecution since they risk losing the US military and other aid.

Nonetheless, the ICC prosecutors showed their willingness to continue the investigation into the US military and began an investigation earlier this year that prompted a quick conviction of Washington.