US sanctions ICC president over court’s investigations

The United States has escalated its campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) by imposing sanctions on its President, Tomoko Akane, and a senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Tuesday, stating they were imposed under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The measures target individuals who have "directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction." Rubio cited the ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as an investigation into U.S. troops in Afghanistan, as reasons for previous sanctions against ICC officials. The newly imposed sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by Akane and Seye, effectively cutting them off from the U.S. financial system. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license allowing transactions involving Akane to be wound down by September 17. Rubio indicated that the administration plans to intensify efforts to undermine the ICC through diplomatic campaigns aimed at persuading other countries to withdraw from the institution. The U.S. argues that the court poses a threat to U.S. personnel involved in various operations, including immigration policies and drug interdiction strikes.

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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.