International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane has called on the Japanese government for continued backing after the Trump administration designated her and eight other ICC judges for sanctions. The measures, which also targeted former chief prosecutor Karim Khan, were imposed in retaliation for the court's investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza and efforts to prosecute officials from countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute.
Akane, the first Japanese national to lead the court, said on August 21 that she was not surprised by the move and that support from Japan would be critical. She met with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in The Hague a day earlier.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she found the sanctions deeply regrettable, while Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tokyo would respond appropriately after weighing national interests. The sanctions list, administered by OFAC, includes a wind-down licence permitting transactions through September 17.