Japan eyes early contribution payment to ICC as court faces U.S. sanctions
If the sanctions are fully implemented as early as April next year, the ICC could be cut off from dollar-based settlements.
Japan is contemplating an early payment of its 2027 contributions to the International Criminal Court (ICC), in response to U.S. sanctions against the court, sources within the Japanese government disclosed. In October, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC, granting it a 180-day moratorium.
The ICC had already sanctioned its President, Tomoko Akane, in August. Should the sanctions be enacted as early as April next year, the ICC might face a halt in dollar-funded operations, potentially causing disruption to staff salaries. According to a Japanese government official, "If nothing is done, the ICC could soon face a funding shortfall."
Typically, Japan has made its annual contributions to the ICC after April, in line with its new fiscal-year budget. If the government opts for an advance payment for 2027, it may incorporate the required funds into a supplemental budget for fiscal 2026. The ICC's 2026 budget amounts to approximately €196 million, or around ¥34.5 billion.
Japan's 2026 contribution stands at about ¥4.6 billion, the highest amount provided by any single country. Akane, a Japanese citizen, has sought early contributions from her home country. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference on Thursday, "We will consider what financial measures we can take while continuing to communicate with President Akane and relevant countries."
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