Venezuela has formally notified the United Nations of its "irrevocable" decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the government saying the move reflects longstanding concerns over what it describes as the tribunal's geographic bias against countries in the Global South.
Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia announced the decision on Friday, saying the notification had been delivered to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres following instructions from acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
The announcement formally advances a measure previously approved by Venezuela's National Assembly to repeal the country's ratification of the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the Hague-based court.
Plasencia said Venezuela believes the ICC has disproportionately focused its work on African and Latin American countries while failing to apply international justice equally.
He said the court's actions reveal an international justice system that has been used to deepen inequalities and disregard the sovereignty and self-determination of nations in the Global South.
The foreign minister also accused the tribunal of engaging in "legal warfare" directed at prosecuting the Venezuelan people while serving political interests outside international law.
He added that Venezuela remains committed to what it described as a genuinely equitable system of international justice that respects national sovereignty.
The announcement follows the government's earlier decision to revoke its commitments under the Rome Statute through legislative action.
Despite Venezuela's withdrawal process, ICC prosecutors have maintained that the court's investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the country remains active under its jurisdiction.
The investigation, opened in 2021, concerns alleged abuses committed during the government's crackdown on anti-government protests in 2017.
The withdrawal also comes amid broader political developments, including closer alignment between Venezuela's current leadership and the United States.
The United States has been critical of the ICC, with senior officials recently pledging efforts to weaken the court's operations.
The timing has also drawn attention because of renewed discussion surrounding Venezuela's foreign policy, although officials presenting the withdrawal framed the decision as being based on concerns over the court's alleged unequal treatment of countries in Africa and Latin America.