Trump opens a front against the ICC - and now relations with Japan are paying the price

The Trump administration expanded sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and blacklisted its president, Japanese judge Tomoko Akane. The decision puts Japan, a major supporter of the court, in an awkward position and raises concerns in relations with the US.

The Trump administration expanded sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and blacklisted its president, Japanese judge Tomoko Akane. Akane assisted in issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision puts Japan, one of the court's largest supporters, in a particularly awkward position. According to a report in the New York Times, Japanese officials worked frantically over the past year to convince their US counterparts to avoid blacklisting the judge. They warned that harming Akane would damage the integrity of the international legal system, harm relations between the countries, and lead to national embarrassment. Akane is highly respected in Japan, and her appointment as head of the ICC is considered a source of national pride. Japan contributes one-sixth of the court's annual budget, which stands at $230 million. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the situation "very regrettable" this week - a rare expression of displeasure toward its key security ally. The sanctions include asset freezes and a ban on entry to the US.