US sanctions International Criminal Court president, Treasury Department website shows

The United States has imposed sanctions on Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to undermine the international body. The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed the sanctions, which freeze any U.S. assets held by Akane and effectively cut her off from the U.S. financial system.

This move follows previous targeted sanctions against ICC officials, including prosecutors and judges. The administration cited the ICC's investigations into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and its arrest warrants for Israeli officials as reasons for its actions. The U.S. is not a member of the ICC, which was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

In June, three ICC judges filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of the sanctions. The Treasury Department has issued a general license authorizing the wind-down of transactions involving Akane through September 17, suggesting a temporary window for compliance.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the administration would intensify efforts to weaken the ICC, including diplomatic campaigns to encourage other countries to withdraw from the institution. Rubio argued that the court poses a threat to U.S. personnel involved in implementing immigration policies or conducting military actions abroad. The administration's actions appear aimed at preempting any future attempts to hold U.S. officials accountable for overseas military operations.