USA imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court President and Chief Prosecutor

The United States has imposed sanctions on the President and Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move escalates a diplomatic offensive against the court, which the U.S. has criticized for overstepping its authority.

The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, target ICC President Tomoko Akane and other court officials. This follows similar measures taken last year after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on X that the new sanctions are "part of our unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham court." He had previously announced a "large-scale campaign" to dismantle the "threat that the International Criminal Court poses to the sovereignty of the United States."

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part of our unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham court.

Rubio deemed it "unacceptable" that the ICC claims authority to prosecute American military personnel and officials. He specifically criticized a former ICC chief prosecutor for labeling U.S. attacks on alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Pacific as "crimes against humanity."

The International Criminal Court, established in 1998 through the Rome Statute, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious international crimes, including genocide and war crimes. The Netherlands and 124 other countries have ratified the Rome Statute.

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It is unacceptable that the ICC claims authority to prosecute American military personnel and officials.