# ICC President Urges UN to Defend Court from U.S. Sanctions

> ICC President Tomoko Akane calls for UN members to resist U.S. sanctions threatening international justice.
- Title: ICC President Urges UN to Defend Court from U.S. Sanctions
- Summary: ICC President Tomoko Akane calls for UN members to resist U.S. sanctions threatening international justice. ICC President Tomoko Akane urges UN members to…
- Keywords: icc, us sanctions, tomoko akane, international justice, judicial independence, united nations, us president donald trump, russian president vladimir putin, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyah, news, politics, President
- Source: The Japan Times — https://japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/11/03/japan/icc-president-speech
- Author: Jessica Speed
- Published: 2026-11-03T05:13:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: icc, un, us sanctions, tomoko akane, international justice, judicial independence, united nations, us president donald trump, russian president vladimir putin, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyah, news, politics
## ICC President Tomoko Akane
ICC President Tomoko Akane delivered her annual report to the UN General Assembly via video after U.S. sanctions made her unable to enter the United States.
## U.S. Sanctions Target ICC
The Trump administration imposed unprecedented sanctions on the ICC after previously targeting individual judges over investigations involving the United States and its allies, including Israel.
## Sanctions Impact Judges
Nine of the court’s 18 judges are now under U.S. sanctions, threatening judicial independence and international justice.
## Akane’s Warning
Akane warned that U.S. sanctions threaten international justice and the rule of law, urging UN members to take concrete action against mounting U.S. pressure.
## Arrest Warrants for Leaders
Akane urged UN members to cooperate in executing outstanding arrest warrants, including those for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
## Japan’s Diplomatic Dilemma
Japan, a major financial contributor to the ICC, faces a diplomatic dilemma balancing support for the court with its security alliance with the United States under Trump.
## Akane’s Final Appeal
Akane stated the court cannot stand alone, and its fate now rests in the hands of the states that created it, to safeguard the international order grounded upon the rule of law.
## Key takeaway

ICC President Tomoko Akane urges UN members to defend the court from U.S. sanctions that target judges and undermine judicial independence.