"These individuals were directly involved in the International Criminal Court's (ICC) efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute officials from governments that have not accepted the ICC's jurisdiction," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 18/8.
Secretary of State Rubio issued the statement while announcing sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and Abdoulaye Seye, a Senegalese senior litigation counsel for the ICC.
The sanctions will freeze all assets belonging to Akane and Seye within areas under US jurisdiction or linked to Washington's financial system.
"The Trump administration made it clear: the ICC is a corrupt and severely politicized supranational court, maliciously abusing its authority and exceeding its jurisdiction. We will not tolerate this body's actions infringing on national sovereignty," Rubio stated.
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ICC President Tomoko Akane in Brussels, Belgium in 3/2025. *Photo: AFP* |
The ICC declared that the US sanctions "undermine the rule of law".
"When judicial actors are threatened for upholding the law, the international legal order itself is put at risk," the body stated.
Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious crimes and serves as a court of last resort when countries lack the capacity to ensure accountability.
The US has imposed sanctions on several ICC officials, banning their entry into the country and prohibiting them from conducting transactions within Washington's financial system.
This move primarily responds to ICC investigations targeting Israel, a US ally. In 2024, the court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu related to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The US signed the Rome Statute establishing the ICC but has not ratified the treaty. Israel is not a member of the ICC.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on 11/8. *Photo: AP* |
In July, Washington launched a major diplomatic campaign against the ICC, accusing the body of "threatening" Americans and urging partners to withdraw from the ICC. Chad and Venezuela have announced their intention to do so.
Last week, four human rights groups sued US President Donald Trump in a New York court over the sanctions Washington imposed on the ICC, arguing that they prevent victims of war crimes from pursuing justice.
In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin related to the conflict in Ukraine, leading Moscow to issue arrest warrants for senior officials of the court. Russia is also not a member of the ICC.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
