Rabat – International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane has rejected US sanctions against her, calling on Japan to help prevent further escalation between Washington and the court.
Speaking at a video news conference from The Hague on Wednesday, Akane said there was “no reason” for her to face US sanctions, emphasizing that the measures had not intimidated her and would not affect her judicial work.
Although the sanctions have caused personal inconvenience, including the suspension of her credit cards, the ICC president said she remains determined to protect the institution and continue its operations.
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the US sanctions against Akane were “not compatible” with Japan’s position, noting that Tokyo has repeatedly urged Washington not to impose sanctions on the ICC president. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also said Japan had sent an official to The Hague to discuss how the government could support Akane.
US Sanctions on the ICC
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on August 18, accusing the court of overstepping its mandate by pursuing officials from countries that have not accepted its jurisdiction.
The sanctions freeze assets within US jurisdiction, bar the targeted officials and their families from entering the United States, and restrict their access to financial services. The measures can also disrupt ordinary financial transactions because institutions connected to the US financial system may be required to comply with the restrictions.
The Trump administration has now sanctioned nine of the ICC’s 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former chief prosecutor, and another member of the prosecution office. The measures form part of a broader US campaign against the court over investigations involving American personnel in Afghanistan and Israeli officials over war crimes in Gaza.
The dispute has also centered on the ICC’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, with Washington accusing the court of exceeding its mandate. The ICC, meanwhile, has described the sanctions as a “flagrant attack” on its judicial independence and vowed to continue its work.
As part of Washington’s broader campaign against the court, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the ICC’s 125 member states to withdraw from the institution. Despite the pressure, Akane insisted that the court “will never be defeated” and would continue its work.
