Japan's Takaichi avoids being drawn into talks with Trump on ICC sanctions

In a September 22 meeting at the United Nations headquarters, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump did not address the topic of sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane. Both leaders reiterated their stances on the matter in their respective speeches at the United Nations General Assembly.

Takaichi, who faces criticism for not taking a firm stance towards the United States, conveyed Japan's position to Trump. She reiterated Japan's consistent support for international courts, including the ICC, in her speech. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, who attended the meeting, said that Japan and the U.S. discussed the ICC candidly based on Japan's stance that the rule of law should be upheld.

However, the specifics of the conversation, including whether Japan called for the withdrawal of sanctions against Akane or urged the U.S. not to impose sanctions on the ICC, were not disclosed. Initially, Takaichi expressed regret over the sanctions, but as criticism grew, she strengthened her stance, stating that it was incompatible with Japan's position.

Japan, being the largest financial contributor to the ICC and having judicial representatives on its bench, has been urged by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to lobby the U.S. side. Despite Japan's support for the ICC, the U.S. has not softened its position. Takaichi emphasized Japan's commitment to international law in her speech, without mentioning the sanctions.

Trump, who aims to dismantle the ICC, characterized it as an "anti-American tribunal" and called on all member states to withdraw. Following the summit, the White House posted a statement highlighting the strengthened alliance between the U.S. and Japan, and photos of the meeting showing both leaders smiling. Strategic analyst Nicholas Szechenyi, a senior fellow at the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that while Japan must prioritize the rule of law, refraining from public criticism of the Trump administration helped avoid a crisis for the alliance.