EU leaders back ICC president after U.S. sanctions

European leaders have declared their "strong support" for the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its senior officials, following U.S. sanctions against them. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel stated that ICC officials "must be able to act independently and without external pressure."

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strong support

The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday against ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and senior ICC lawyer Abdoulaye Seye from Senegal. The U.S. has been campaigning against the ICC, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken describing the institution as "corrupt and deadly politicized."

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must be able to act independently and without external pressure.

In response, the ICC issued a strong condemnation of the U.S. actions, calling them an "outrageous attack" on the independence of the judiciary. The Hague-based court emphasized that such measures against judges, prosecutors, and staff undermine the principles of the rule of law. Germany also expressed its support for President Akane and called for the protection of the ICC as an independent institution.

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corrupt and deadly politicized.

Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the gravest crimes and serves as a court of last resort when national legal systems are unable or unwilling to do so. The U.S. sanctions and the subsequent international reactions highlight a significant diplomatic tension surrounding the court's operations and its perceived independence.

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These sanctions are an outrageous attack on the independence of an impartial judicial institution.