Washington: The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and official Abdoulaye Seye, intensifying its pressure on the court amid ongoing tensions regarding its jurisdictional reach. The sanctions were officially announced on Tuesday, adding both Akane and Seye to the US Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.
According to Anadolu Agency, the sanctions were enacted under Executive Order 14203, titled "Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court," which was signed by US President Donald Trump on February 6, 2025. Since its implementation, this order has been used to sanction a total of ten ICC officials, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and eight judges. The designation effectively blocks any US-held assets of Akane and Seye and prohibits American individuals and entities from conducting transactions with them.
The recent sanctions come in the wake of the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accused of war crimes in Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has alleged that Akane and Seye are directly involved in the ICC's efforts to investigate and prosecute officials from governments that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
Rubio emphasized the US administration's intent to dismantle what it views as a threat to national sovereignty posed by the ICC. He urged other countries to join the campaign by withdrawing their support and participation from the court, which he described as "politicized and unaccountable." Last month, the US State Department launched a broader campaign to counter the ICC's perceived overreach into American and allied interests.
Addressing the campaign at Camp David, Rubio asserted that the ICC undermines its legitimacy by attempting to exert jurisdiction over non-member states, specifically pointing out that neither the US nor Israel is a party to the ICC. Former President Trump supported Rubio's stance, highlighting the aim to protect allies such as Netanyahu.
Despite the mounting pressure, Akane has stood firm against the sanctions, reaffirming her commitment to the ICC's independence and impartiality. In a speech to the court's Assembly of States Parties in December, she stated that the sanctions would not influence the interpretation of the court's statutory framework or case adjudication. Akane, who is the ICC's sixth president and the first Japanese national to hold the position, has vocalized her opposition to external pressures on judicial decisions.
As of now, the ICC has not released a statement regarding the latest sanctions imposed by the US.