ICC chief cautions that U.S. sanctions jeopardize the future of international rule of law

Published on 21/08/2026 – 11:32 GMT+2

International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane of Japan warned on Friday that the United States’ sanctions threaten the integrity of the international rule of law.

She acknowledged that the sanctions were not unexpected, stating, “The sanction against me this time was something I had anticipated to an extent, so I’m not surprised,” as conveyed in a statement posted on X by her publisher, Bungei Shunju.

What matters now is to ensure that this does not mark the start of the erosion of the international rule of law.

On Tuesday, the United States imposed sanctions on Akane and Senegalese trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, marking the latest move in the Trump administration’s campaign to dismantle what it describes as a “corrupt and fatally politicised” tribunal.

The sanctions prohibit both individuals from entering the United States and from conducting any financial transactions within the American financial system.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the United States is sanctioning ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, accusing them of “directly” participating in “efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose governments have not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”

Akane’s statement, issued as her first public response since the sanctions were announced, follows the ICC’s condemnation on Wednesday, which labeled the measures a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence.

Washington has repeatedly accused the ICC of engaging in “politicised actions” and of “targeting Israel.”

In November 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning alleged crimes related to the Gaza conflict.

Although neither Israel nor the United States are parties to the ICC, Palestine has been a member state since 2015, granting the court jurisdiction to investigate alleged offenses on its territory.

Support from the EU

Earlier this week, the presidents of the European Commission and Council, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, voiced their backing for the ICC following the latest U.S. sanctions.

‘The ICC helps deliver justice to the victims of some of the world’s most horrific crimes,’ both EU leaders said in a statement.

‘To carry out this essential work, its judges and officials must be able to act independently and without external pressure,’ they added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Netherlands strongly criticised the U.S. move, with Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen stating that his government “disapproves” of the sanctions.

A German government spokesperson affirmed Berlin’s support for the ICC, emphasizing that the court “has held accountable those guilty of the gravest crimes” and is “fulfilling its mandate exactly as intended”.

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