US sanctions ICC president, accusing court of politicization

The United States has imposed sanctions on Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and another senior magistrate, Abdoulaye Seye. The U.S. State Department declared that these individuals were involved in attempts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from governments that do not recognize the court's jurisdiction.

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These individuals have directly engaged in the ICC's attempts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose governments do not recognize the jurisdiction of that court.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes in the U.S., are part of an ongoing campaign against the ICC, which the U.S. administration views as "corrupt" and "fatally politicized." The U.S. has not ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC in 2002, and does not recognize its authority.

The ICC, based in The Hague, responded by calling the sanctions a "violation of the rule of law." The court asserted that threatening justice officials for enforcing the law puts the international legal order at risk. This action follows previous sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on ICC judges and prosecutors, primarily due to investigations concerning Israel.

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When actors of justice are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order that is put at risk.

In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant related to the war in Gaza, as well as for Hamas members. The U.S. has consistently opposed these investigations, viewing them as an overreach of the court's mandate and an assault on national sovereignty.

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The Trump administration has been clear: The International Criminal Court is a corrupt, fatally politicized supranational tribunal that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate this assault on sovereignty.