US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American members of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC) on Wednesday to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the tribunal of undermining national sovereignty.​

Axar.az informs that speaking in Panama, Hegseth said the alliance’s member states had the right to maintain their sovereignty and use their own military forces to defend themselves against threats.

"Our nations retain our sovereignty and our ability to deploy our own warriors in our own defense. We will never relinquish our absolute right to defend ourselves from threats to our safeties and our citizens of my country and of your countries. We answer only to our own citizens and our own constitutions, not unelected international bureaucrats" he said.

Hegseth also urged every member of the alliance to leave the ICC.

"That's why I strongly encourage every A member to leave the ICC and reject their attempts to rob your governments and your courts of your sovereignty. I know as a soldier I swore an oath to the Constitution, not some fake and illegitimate international court," he added.