Tokyo – In a video‑linked news conference from The Hague, International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane appealed to Japan’s government to work with the United States and ease the growing diplomatic strain caused by U.S. sanctions on ICC officials.

Akane, a Japanese national, became the latest court member to be hit with sanctions that freeze any assets she holds in U.S. jurisdictions, bar her family from entering the United States, and restrict access to basic financial services. The Trump administration imposed the measures in retaliation for ICC investigations into alleged war crimes involving Israeli officials in Gaza and U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

“I insist that there is no reason I have to be sanctioned,” Akane told reporters, adding that the sanctions, though inconvenient, have not intimidated her or hindered the court’s work. “The ICC will never be defeated. Justice will and should prevail.”

She described the sanctions as an “unreasonable inconvenience and threat,” noting that even her credit cards were suspended. Yet she emphasized her commitment to protecting the ICC, its judges, staff, and the victims who rely on the court as a last hope for accountability.

Turning to Japan, Akane highlighted the country’s longstanding commitment to the rule of law in its diplomatic outreach. “I would like Japan to do everything it can to defend the ICC and the rule of law in the global society,” she said, urging Tokyo to persuade Washington not to deepen the confrontation.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has been balancing Japan’s alliance with the United States and its support for international legal norms, responded that the sanctions are “not compatible” with Japan’s position and that the government takes the matter “very seriously.” She expressed solidarity with Akane, saying, “I share the sense of crisis and concern that President Akane has faced, and we will continue to provide necessary support.”

Domestic criticism has surfaced, with some members of Takaichi’s own party accusing her of avoiding a direct challenge to President Trump. Nonetheless, the prime minister reiterated that Japan has repeatedly called on Washington to refrain from sanctioning ICC officials.

A cross‑party group of ruling and opposition lawmakers in Japan adopted a statement denouncing the Trump administration’s actions, demanding a retraction and urging the government to take stronger measures in defense of the court.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed that his ministry has dispatched an official to The Hague to meet with Akane and discuss concrete ways Japan can support her and the ICC. He warned that Washington’s stance remains “extremely severe” and hinted at the possibility of additional sanction measures.

Japan became the 105th member of the ICC in 2007 under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and its involvement in this dispute underscores the delicate balance between upholding international justice and maintaining a strategic alliance with the United States.

The ICC, founded to prosecute individuals responsible for the gravest international crimes, has faced increasing pressure from the Trump administration, which has now sanctioned nine of the court’s 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former chief prosecutor, and another prosecution staffer. The court’s leadership maintains that its investigations are essential to global accountability and that external political pressure should not undermine its mission.

What This Means for the Rule of Law

Akane’s appeal places Japan at a crossroads: either to stand firmly with the ICC and the principle of universal justice, or to align more closely with a U.S. administration that views the court as overreaching. The outcome could influence how other U.S. allies respond to Washington’s punitive approach toward international institutions.

For families and faith communities concerned about the protection of human dignity and the pursuit of justice, the dispute highlights the importance of governments that respect constitutional principles, uphold the rule of law, and protect the rights of victims worldwide.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.