US sanctions ICC chief Tomoko Akane of Japan

The United States has sanctioned International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior official Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, as part of its campaign against what Washington views as a politicized court. The US, which is not a party to the treaty establishing the ICC, imposed sanctions on the individuals for allegedly engaging in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government had not consented to ICC jurisdiction.

The ICC responded, stating that the US sanctions undermine the rule of law and threaten the international legal order. The US has already sanctioned several other ICC officials and believes the court's investigations, such as the one targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza, are politically motivated.

The Netherlands, which hosts the ICC, disapproved of the latest sanctions. The US has a history of imposing sanctions on ICC officials, and last month, Washington launched a diplomatic offensive accusing the ICC of threatening Americans and calling on partners to withdraw from the body. Human rights groups have criticized the sanctions, stating that they prevent victims of war crimes from pursuing justice and demonstrate the Trump administration's contempt for international law.