By SCM International Desk I Wednesday, August 26, 2025
THE HAGUE — Defying severe financial penalties and travel bans imposed by the United States, Judge Tomoko Akane, the president of the International Criminal Court, declared on Wednesday that she would not be intimidated by Washington’s expanding sanction campaign against the tribunal, asserting firmly that “justice will prevail”.
Addressing journalists during a press conference organized by the Japan National Press Club, Judge Akane rejected allegations by American officials that the court had overreached its authority. She delivered a stinging defense of international law, describing Washington’s coercive measures against judicial personnel as a direct threat to global accountability.
“I will not allow myself to be pressured by these threats,” Judge Akane said, speaking remotely from The Hague. “I can state categorically that there is absolutely no reason for me to be sanctioned. We must never allow the I.C.C. to collapse, and we will resist with all our might.”
The confrontation escalated following a formal declaration by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing financial sanctions and visa restrictions against Judge Akane and senior I.C.C. prosecutors.
Washington’s measures freeze any assets the court officials hold within U.S. jurisdiction, block them from using the American financial system, and bar them from entering the United States. American officials justified the sanctions by accusing the tribunal—established under the 1998 Rome Statute—of being a “corrupt and fatally politicized” body that infringes on national sovereignty.
The hostility stems primarily from I.C.C. investigations into non-member states, most notably the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for high-ranking foreign figures. Key targets of recent court actions include:
Israeli Officials: Warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense leadership over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Russian Leadership: An arrest warrant issued in 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin related to war crimes in Ukraine, which prompted Moscow to issue counter-warrants against Judge Akane herself.
Neither the United States, Israel, nor Russia are state parties to the Rome Statute. Washington maintains that the court has no jurisdiction over nations that have not formally ratified the treaty, arguing that prosecuting their citizens undermines democratic self-governance.
However, human rights organizations and I.C.C. advocates point out that the court’s jurisdiction applies when alleged crimes occur on the territory of a member state—such as Palestine or Ukraine—regardless of the perpetrator’s nationality.
The sanctioning of Judge Akane—the first Japanese national to serve as President of the International Criminal Court—has placed close American allies in an uncomfortable position.
Japan is both a top military ally of the United States and the single largest financial contributor to the I.C.C.
Following criticism from cross-party lawmakers who deemed Tokyo’s early response too soft, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted that the U.S. sanctions were “incompatible with Japan’s position” and pledged continued support for the court.
During her address, Judge Akane appealed directly to Tokyo and international member states to use their diplomatic leverage to shield the tribunal from external pressure and prevent countries from withdrawing under political coercion.
“When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk,” Judge Akane warned, reaffirming that the tribunal would push forward with its dockets despite financial and political retaliation.
