The International Criminal Court has strongly criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on its president, Tomoko Akane. The court described the measures as a “flagrant attack” on its independence and judicial authority.
Washington imposed sanctions on Akane of Japan and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday.
The measures form part of the US campaign against what Washington calls a “corrupt and fatally politicised” institution.
The sanctions prevent Akane and Seye from entering the United States. They also restrict their ability to conduct transactions through the US financial system.
The latest measures have triggered criticism from several international officials and governments.
ICC Calls Sanctions an Attack on Judicial Independence
The ICC strongly rejected the US action and defended its independence as a judicial institution.
The court said in a statement: “These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”
It further warned: “Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff… undermine the rule of law.”
The statement reflects the court’s concern over measures targeting officials involved in its judicial and prosecutorial work.
The ICC maintains that such actions can affect the ability of its officials to perform their duties independently.
Meanwhile, several European officials have expressed support for the court and its leadership.
UN Rights Chief Calls for Sanctions to Be Lifted
United Nations rights chief Volker Turk also criticised the latest US sanctions.
Turk called on Washington to withdraw the measures imposed against Akane and the ICC prosecution staff member.
“Unacceptable new sanctions imposed by the USA against the International Criminal Court’s President and a prosecution staff member must be lifted,” said Turk.
His comments added to growing international criticism of Washington’s latest action against ICC officials.
The European Union’s senior officials also defended the court’s ability to operate without outside pressure.
European Leaders Defend ICC Independence
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa both backed the ICC.
In separate statements on X, they stressed the importance of the court’s independence. They said the court “must be able to act independently and without external pressure.”
Germany’s foreign ministry also defended the importance of the court’s independence. It described the issue as “of central importance” to the international justice system.
The Netherlands also expressed disapproval of the sanctions. The country hosts the ICC in The Hague and has long been closely associated with the court.
France also criticised the measures imposed against the ICC officials.
A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said, “France condemns all threats and coercive measures against the court.”
Spain likewise defended the institution and described it as “the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system”.
Japan Objects to US Sanctions on ICC Officials
Japan also objected to Washington’s decision to sanction Akane, who is Japanese. Japan’s foreign ministry reaffirmed the country’s support for the ICC and its work.
It said Japan “consistently supported the ICC… in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to uphold the rule of law.”
Japan has a particularly important relationship with the ICC because it is the court’s biggest funder. At the same time, Japan remains a close US ally despite opposing the latest sanctions.
The United States, however, is not a party to the international treaty that established the ICC.
Why Did Washington Sanction ICC Officials?
The latest US measures follow previous sanctions against several ICC officials. Washington’s actions have largely been linked to the court’s investigations involving Israel, a close US ally.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the latest sanctions in a statement.
He did not provide specific examples but accused the sanctioned individuals of targeting officials whose governments had not accepted ICC jurisdiction.
Rubio said the sanctioned “individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction”.
The US administration has repeatedly questioned the ICC’s authority over individuals from countries that are not parties to the court.
The latest sanctions therefore represent another escalation in the dispute between Washington and the international court.
What Is the International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of the gravest international crimes.
The court serves as a last resort when national legal systems cannot adequately provide accountability. Its work focuses on individuals rather than governments.
The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court’s legal framework. However, several major countries remain outside the ICC system.
The United States signed the Rome Statute but never ratified it. Israel, Russia and China are also not members of the ICC.
This difference over membership and jurisdiction has remained central to disputes involving the court.
Israel Welcomes the Latest US Sanctions
Israel has welcomed Washington’s latest action against ICC officials. US President Donald Trump’s administration had already imposed sanctions against ICC officials.
The court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024 over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu welcomed the latest US sanctions in a post on X on Tuesday.
He called the ICC “a kangaroo court that cloaks its abuse of power in the language of international law”.
The sanctions have therefore received strong support from Israel while drawing criticism from several European governments and international officials.
US Campaign Against the ICC Intensifies
Washington launched a broader diplomatic campaign against the ICC last month. The United States accused the court of “threatening” Americans and urged its partners to withdraw from the institution.
Chad and Venezuela have already announced withdrawals from the ICC, according to the provided account. Venezuela has aligned with the United States after Washington captured its leader Nicolas Maduro.
The ICC expressed concern that countries leaving the institution could weaken collective efforts to pursue international justice.
The court has continued to defend its role despite growing pressure from Washington and other governments.
US Says ICC Has Exceeded Its Mandate
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused the ICC of exceeding its authority. Rubio described the court in strong terms while defending the sanctions against its officials.
“The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court is a corrupt and fatally politicised supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate,” said Rubio’s statement.
The US secretary of state also said Washington would oppose what it considers an attack on national sovereignty.
“We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.”
Washington’s position directly conflicts with the ICC’s defence of its judicial independence.
The dispute has consequently placed questions of jurisdiction, sovereignty and international accountability at the centre of the latest confrontation.
ICC Has Also Targeted Russian Leadership
The current dispute is not the first time the ICC has faced retaliation over its investigations. In 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
The move prompted Moscow to issue its own arrest warrants against senior ICC officials. The latest US sanctions have now added another major confrontation between the court and a powerful state.
For the ICC, the central issue remains its ability to operate independently while pursuing cases within its mandate. For Washington, however, the dispute centres on sovereignty and what it considers the court’s limits.
The opposing positions have produced strong reactions from governments and international officials.
As the dispute continues, the sanctions against Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye have placed the ICC’s independence under renewed international scrutiny.
