Japan has issued an unusual criticism of its American ally, describing the recent decision by Washington to impose sanctions against the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a chief prosecutor as “very regrettable.” This statement was made public on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.
The reaction followed an announcement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding sanctions targeting Tomoko Akane, the Japanese judge serving as president of the ICC, and Abdoulaye Seye, a Senegalese attorney involved in seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and former Hamas leader Mohammad Deif in November 2024.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry emphasized that Japan has consistently supported the ICC, which was established as a permanent international criminal court in 2002 to prosecute the gravest crimes affecting the global community. Japan became a member of the ICC in 2007.
Japan and Europe Criticize US Actions
Japan, heavily reliant on U.S. military power for its defense, rarely criticizes Washington. The recent sanctions against the ICC have also led to tensions with European allies. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen previously stated on social media that the Netherlands opposes the latest American sanctions and has invited Akane to discuss ongoing support.
In December, Akane warned that prior U.S. sanctions against the ICC could “quickly undermine the court’s operations across all situations and cases, jeopardizing its very existence.” Last year, Washington sanctioned several ICC prosecutors and judges, citing arrest warrants issued by the court for Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as a previous investigation into U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
These measures freeze any assets held in the U.S. by the sanctioned individuals and largely exclude them from the American financial system, which is closely linked to most international banks.
