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Washington imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court president and senior official
🇬🇷 Greece /Elections & Politics

Washington imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court president and senior official

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The United States has imposed sanctions on the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, and another senior official.
  • Washington accuses the ICC of being "politicized" and criticizes its investigations into countries not recognizing its jurisdiction.
  • The sanctions, which include travel bans and financial restrictions, are largely seen as a response to the ICC's investigations into Israel.

The United States escalated its confrontation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by imposing sanctions on its president, Tomoko Akane, and another senior judicial official.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that these individuals "directly participated in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials of governments that have not consented to the ICC's jurisdiction." The sanctions primarily target Akane, a Japanese national, and the ICC's deputy prosecutor, Senegalese prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye. The measures typically include barring entry into the U.S. and prohibiting financial transactions.

These individuals directly participated in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials of governments that have not consented to the ICC's jurisdiction.

— Antony BlinkenExplaining the rationale behind the U.S. sanctions against ICC officials.

The U.S., which has not ratified the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, has previously sanctioned ICC judges. These latest actions are widely viewed as a response to the court's investigations into Israel, a key U.S. ally. The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the war in Gaza.

When pressure is exerted on judicial bodies to prevent them from enforcing the law, the international legal order itself is endangered.

— International Criminal CourtResponding to the U.S. sanctions and criticizing their impact on the rule of law.

Washington launched a significant diplomatic offensive against the ICC last month, labeling it a threat to Americans and urging partners to withdraw from the court. Chad and Venezuela have recently followed the U.S. lead, with Blinken expressing confidence that more countries will do the same. The ICC has expressed concern over these withdrawals, warning they could jeopardize the collective pursuit of justice.

In response to the U.S. sanctions, the ICC issued a statement calling the measures "undermining the rule of law." The court asserted that pressuring judicial bodies to prevent them from enforcing the law endangers the international legal order. The ICC affirmed its commitment to its staff and victims of atrocities, stating it remains "unwavering."

Measures targeting judges, prosecutors, and staff working to fulfill the mandate entrusted to the ICC by States undermine the rule of law.

— International Criminal CourtFurther elaborating on the negative consequences of the U.S. sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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