The United States Treasury announced on Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer, adding them to the Specially Designated Nationals list. The measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, were presented as part of the Trump administration’s effort to “dismantle the court brick by brick,” according to the BBC.
Sanctions Details and U.S. Rationale
According to Reuters and Bloomberg, the sanctions target the two officials for alleged actions that the United States says threaten national sovereignty. The Treasury’s statement, echoed by statements from Sen. Marco Rubio, frames the ICC as a “sham” institution that pursues “pretend offenses.”
“We will not allow a sham court to try pretend offenses,” Rubio said, as reported by The Hill.The administration’s stance builds on its 2020 withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, and reflects a broader campaign, highlighted by Al Jazeera, to curtail the court’s jurisdiction over American personnel.
International Backlash
The ICC condemned the sanctions, describing them as an “attack on the rule of law” that threatens the court’s independence and ability to carry out its mandate, France 24 reported. Officials from the United Nations and the European Union issued statements denouncing the United States’ actions as “unprecedented” and “counterproductive to global justice.” DW.com noted that the sanctions “undermine the rule of law” and could set a dangerous precedent for other states.
Japan, whose citizen Tomoko Akane serves as ICC president, expressed “deep concern” over the measures, according to the Jerusalem Post. Several human‑rights NGOs, including Amnesty International, warned that the sanctions could intimidate judges and prosecutors worldwide, potentially chilling investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Legal experts quoted by The Guardian argued that while the United States can legally designate foreign officials under its sanctions regime, the move may erode diplomatic channels that facilitate cooperation on criminal investigations. They cautioned that the sanctions could hamper the ICC’s ability to secure evidence and witnesses in cases where U.S. cooperation is essential.
The Treasury’s action also marks an escalation in the Trump administration’s rhetoric, which has repeatedly described the ICC as a “threat to national sovereignty.” Al Jazeera highlighted the administration’s pledge to dismantle the court “brick by brick,” a phrase first reported by the BBC. The administration claims the ICC oversteps its mandate by investigating alleged violations involving U.S. forces, a contention the court has repeatedly rejected.
Despite the United States’ justification, the ICC’s chief prosecutor reiterated that the court remains committed to its mandate and will continue to pursue accountability for the gravest international crimes, according to AP News. The court’s statement emphasized that sanctions “undermine the rule of law” and could set a “dangerous precedent” for other international bodies.
Analysts at Bloomberg suggest that the sanctions could further isolate the United States from multilateral justice mechanisms, potentially complicating future diplomatic negotiations on issues ranging from climate change to trade. The move, they note, may also embolden other nations to take similar steps against international institutions they perceive as infringing on sovereignty.
