Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, 25 August declared that the United States sanctions imposed on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane are “incompatible” with Japan’s position, signalling a rare public rift between two of Washington’s closest allies over the future of international justice.

Tokyo’s Position on the Sanctions

Speaking to reporters, Takaichi said Japan takes the US sanctions “very seriously” and has consistently backed the ICC. As early as 19 August, she had described the US action as “very unfortunate,” revealing that Tokyo had made efforts “until the last minute to persuade the US” to hold back. Japan, she noted, holds the distinction of being the largest financial contributor to the ICC and therefore carries a special responsibility to defend the institution. Takaichi said Japan would continue monitoring the situation and take necessary steps “at the appropriate time.”

Who Was Sanctioned and Why

The Trump administration last week designated Akane — the first Japanese national to lead the ICC — and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye under an executive order authorising sanctions against the court. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused both officials of “directly engaging in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.” The designations widened Washington’s ongoing campaign against the Hague-based tribunal.

Washington’s Escalating Stance

Rubio framed the sanctions as part of a broader, government-wide effort to curtail the ICC’s reach. “The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate,” he said. “We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.” He added that the administration “stands ready to take additional measures, if necessary, to systematically dismantle the ICC until it is incapable of threatening American sovereignty.” The US has also urged other nations to withdraw financial and political support from the court.

Background: The ICC and Its Jurisdiction Dispute

The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, was established under the Rome Statute, which entered into force in 2002. It prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression when national courts are unable or unwilling to act. The United States has never ratified the Rome Statute, a longstanding source of tension with the court. Rubio argued that the ICC’s attempts to assert authority over nationals of non-member states “sets a dangerous precedent for all nations.”

What Comes Next

Tokyo’s public pushback puts Japan in an uncomfortable position — diplomatically aligned with Washington on most security issues, yet at odds over multilateral institutions. Takaichi has signalled further diplomatic engagement, though the form and timeline remain unspecified. With Rubio explicitly warning of additional measures, the confrontation between Washington and the ICC appears far from over, and allies like Japan face mounting pressure to choose sides.