US Imposes Sanctions on ICC President Amid Tensions Over Arrest Warrants

The United States has imposed sanctions on Abdoulaye Sey and Tomoko Akane, the Japanese judge serving as president of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions freeze Akane's assets in the US and cut her off from the American financial system, while allowing a phased wind-down of transactions with her until September 17, according to Reuters. This move follows last year's US sanctions against other ICC officials, including prosecutors and judges, in response to arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, as well as investigations into US military actions in Afghanistan.

In June, three ICC judges filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the sanctions are illegal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the administration will intensify efforts to undermine the ICC's legitimacy, including a diplomatic campaign to persuade other countries to withdraw from the court. The US claims the ICC poses a threat to American security personnel.

President Donald Trump emphasized that the campaign aims to protect Netanyahu and others from prosecution and to prevent future attempts to indict US figures for overseas military operations. The United States has never been a member of the ICC.