The time to defend the International Criminal Court is now
Despite reticence to confront destabilizing U.S. behavior, there are risks to Japan's interests and wider support for the ICC should it choose not to firmly respond.
In mid-July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a major effort to dismantle the International Criminal Court. This campaign, unprecedented in its scope and potential impact, seeks to "systematically disable the ICC's ability to operate." One of the latest targets of the U.S. government's sanctions is Judge Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national and the president of the ICC, who was sanctioned along with senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye by the Trump administration on August 18.
The administration labeled the ICC as a "corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority." This assault on the ICC not only undermines the framework of international law but also complicates the Japan-U.S. relationship. With tensions escalating over economic and trade matters as well as security issues, the U.S. campaign against the ICC could create a new front in international relations.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
