The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday said US sanctions imposed against senior members of the tribunal undermine the rule of law and put the broader international legal system at risk. The statement came after Washington announced sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan, escalating the Trump administration's campaign against the Hague-based court.

The ICC said measures directed at judges, prosecutors and other court officials threaten the independence of judicial actors who are responsible for applying international law. "When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk," the court said in a statement sent to reporters. The tribunal argued that sanctions against its personnel could have consequences beyond the individuals directly targeted.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United States imposed sanctions on Akane as part of its continuing pressure campaign against the ICC. The Trump administration has accused the court of being "politicised" and has taken measures against officials associated with its work. Washington has strongly opposed actions by the ICC that it views as exceeding its authority, particularly when they involve US citizens or officials of allied countries.

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The latest US measures also targeted Abdoulaye Seye, a senior ICC trial lawyer from Senegal. The sanctions represent another escalation in Washington's confrontation with the institution, which is headquartered in The Hague and was established to prosecute individuals accused of some of the world's most serious crimes. The ICC's work includes cases involving alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Responding to the sanctions, the court defended the role of its personnel and rejected the suggestion that targeting individual officials would weaken its determination to carry out its mandate. The ICC said that measures against judges, prosecutors and staff working to fulfil responsibilities assigned to the court by member states "undermine the rule of law." It also said it remained "undeterred" by the latest action from Washington.

The court further stressed its support for its personnel and for victims of what it described as "unimaginable atrocities." The confrontation highlights the continuing dispute between the United States and the ICC over the court's authority and independence. The latest sanctions are likely to deepen tensions between Washington and the international judicial institution as the Trump administration continues its efforts to challenge the ICC's activities.

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