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US Sanctions ICC President Akane Over 'Politicized' Probe
🇸🇬 Singapore /Elections & Politics

US Sanctions ICC President Akane Over 'Politicized' Probe

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • The United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal.
  • Washington accuses the ICC of being "politicized" and claims these individuals have acted to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from countries not consenting to ICC jurisdiction.
  • The sanctions, which bar the individuals from entering the U.S. and engaging in U.S. financial transactions, are largely a response to ICC investigations targeting Israel, a U.S. ally, including an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane of Japan, and a senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. The U.S. government accuses the Hague-based court of being "politicized" and claims these individuals have directly participated in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from governments that do not consent to the ICC's jurisdiction.

These sanctions, announced Tuesday, are the latest move by the Trump administration against the ICC. The measures prohibit the targeted individuals from entering the United States and from participating in any transactions within the U.S. financial system. The U.S. is not a party to the international treaty that established the ICC and has previously sanctioned other court officials.

These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction

— Marco RubioU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the rationale behind the sanctions in a statement.

The U.S. actions appear to be a direct response to ICC investigations that have targeted Israel, a close U.S. ally. Notably, the ICC issued an arrest warrant in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning the war in Gaza. Last month, the U.S. launched a significant diplomatic campaign against the ICC, asserting that the court is "threatening" Americans and urging partner nations to withdraw from the body.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the ICC is a "corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate." He vowed that the U.S. "will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty." However, four human rights groups have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump in a New York court, arguing that the sanctions impede victims of war crimes from seeking justice.

The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty

— Marco RubioRubio's statement further elaborated on the administration's view of the ICC.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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