ICC president urges U.N. members to defend court against U.S. sanctions
President Tomoko Akane used an annual report to warn that sanctions imposed by Washington threaten international justice and the rule of law.
ICC President Tomoko Akane has urged all United Nations member states to take "concrete action" to counter growing pressure from the U.S. over the International Criminal Court (ICC). Akane, speaking via a prerecorded video from New York, condemned the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, warning they threaten international justice and the rule of law.
Akane, the first ICC president to address the U.N. General Assembly remotely since the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted that nine of the court's 18 judges are now under U.S. sanctions. She emphasized the ICC's commitment to impartiality and independence, vowing to continue its mandate despite the pressure. Akane also called on member states to cooperate in enforcing arrest warrants, including for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The European Union and other countries expressed strong support for the ICC during the session. This appeal comes as Japan, a key financial contributor and advocate of international order, grapples with the diplomatic challenge posed by U.S. pressure. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced a dilemma in balancing Japan's commitment to the court and its security alliance with the United States.
Akane stressed that the ICC's survival depends on support from the countries that created it, underscoring the fight against the erosion of international justice.
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