The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a sharp rebuttal following the announcement of fresh US sanctions targeting its leadership. Washington confirmed on Tuesday that it is imposing sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. The Trump administration, which has ramped up efforts to dismantle the organization, accuses the officials of directly engaging in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute government representatives from nations that have not consented to the court's jurisdiction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court, alleging that it has maliciously abused its authority. According to Rubio, the institution has repeatedly attempted to assert its reach over nationals of the United States and other countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute. Washington has long criticized the court for what it terms politicized actions, including a specific focus on Israel; notably, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024 regarding the war in Gaza.
In a statement responding to the latest measures, the ICC declared that the sanctions undermine the rule of law. The court warned that when judicial actors face threats for applying the law, the entire international legal order is placed at risk. This development marks a continuation of US efforts that began in July, when the State Department announced a campaign to systematically disable the court's ability to operate. Potential measures under this plan include further sanctions, visa revocations, and travel bans on personnel. The US has previously imposed sanctions against various members of the court, including several judges.
