Judge Tomoko Akane, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), addressed the United Nations remotely on Monday, November 2, 2026, to criticize sanctions imposed by the Trump administration against the tribunal. Akane stated that the penalties were an attempt to obstruct international justice and vowed that the court would continue its work despite U.S. pressure.
The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in instances where national governments are unable or unwilling to act. While 125 countries are members of the court, the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that created it. The recent tension follows ICC investigations into the actions of U.S. personnel and allies, including Israel.
Akane delivered her briefing from a remote location because U.S. sanctions restricted her ability to travel to the U.N. headquarters. During the address, she noted that the administration announced sweeping new penalties on October 9, 2026. On the same day, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge from South Africa. Akane called on all 193 U.N. member nations to take "concrete action" to defend the court's independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the measures, stating that the U.S. would "ban transactions with this rogue court" to cut off its resources and limit its ability to operate against American interests. The Trump administration has also reportedly urged other member-countries to withdraw from the ICC. In response to the U.S. actions, representatives from the European Union and several other nations spoke at the General Assembly to affirm their support for the tribunal's mandate.
For the international community, the conflict sets a precedent regarding the reach of national sanctions over treaty-based international organizations. The "sweeping" nature of the October 9 sanctions means the court must navigate a total ban on U.S. transactions, affecting its ability to pay for services, staff, or resources derived from U.S. markets. This change is immediate, as evidenced by Akane’s inability to attend the U.N. briefing in person.
The knock-on effects may influence the future participation of other countries in the ICC, as the U.S. has actively encouraged member states to quit the tribunal. The situation also tests the collective security and legal agreements of the European Union, which remains a primary supporter of the court. The next steps involve ongoing deliberations within the U.N. General Assembly and potential further diplomatic responses from the 125 ICC member states as they weigh the U.S. demand to dismantle the tribunal against their treaty obligations.