ICC President says she won’t give up under US sanctions

What's happened

ICC President Tomoko Akane has said she will resist further US sanctions and keep the court’s work moving, telling reporters she won’t let the ICC be shut down. Washington has intensified pressure against the court, sanctioning Akane and a senior trial lawyer while urging other countries to quit the ICC.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

• The narrative centers on a clash between the ICC and the US-led coalition pressuring member states to withdraw. Akane frames this as a test of political will and the durability of international justice.
• The story hints at broader geopolitical dynamics: Japan’s role as ICC funder and ally to the US could influence other countries facing pressure to leave.
• Consequences for readers lie in the potential sustenance or erosion of international legal norms and how allies respond to pressure against multilateral institutions.

Key questions

• Will Japan increase diplomatic support to the ICC to counter US pressure?
• How will sanctions affect the ICC’s ongoing investigations?
• What are the practical implications for ICC staff and operations if pressure mounts?

How we got here

The ICC, established in 2002, prosecutes war crimes and crimes against humanity. The US has not ratified the Rome Statute but has opposed specific ICC actions, including arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu and a probe into US troops in Afghanistan. Japan, a major ICC funder, joined the court in 2007 and aligns with US partners on the issue.

Our analysis

The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, The New Arab report on Akane’s comments and US sanctions, with emphasis on Akane’s remarks and Japan’s stance. Direct quotes underline the rhetoric of resolve and calls for unity among member states.

Go deeper

• Will Japan push other ICC members to resist withdrawal?
• What is the practical impact on ICC operations if sanctions expand?
• How are other funders reacting to Washington’s stance?

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