International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane has scrapped her planned trip to New York for a Nov. 2 address before the United Nations General Assembly amid U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s sweeping sanctions against the tribunal, including travel restrictions, marking another disruption to the court’s international activities.
Akane will instead deliver the ICC’s annual report through a prerecorded video, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Oct. 26, citing confirmation from the office of the United Nations General Assembly president.
The Trump administration sanctioned Akane and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on Aug. 18. After the designations, the ICC said U.S. sanctions had targeted nine of its 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former prosecutor and one staff member.
The U.S. later expanded the sanctions, freezing all ICC assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting American companies and citizens from conducting financial transactions with or providing services to the court. The financial restrictions have effectively cut the ICC off from key infrastructure, including U.S. banks and cloud-based information technology services.
Washington has accused the ICC of overstepping its authority by pursuing cases involving nationals of countries that do not recognize its jurisdiction, including the U.S. and Israel.
The sanctions have also disrupted the ICC’s private-sector partnerships. French insurer AXA ended its health insurance agreement with the court Oct. 1, with the Financial Times reporting that the company cited risks associated with U.S. sanctions. The ICC confirmed that another insurer had assumed the coverage.
The ICC likewise moved its annual Assembly of States Parties meeting from New York to The Hague, citing sanctions and visa restrictions affecting attendees. The meeting is set for Nov. 30 to Dec. 7.
The developments come as the ICC prepares for the Nov. 30 trial of former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte over alleged killings connected to his administration’s war on drugs. In April, judges confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte. He remains in ICC custody in The Hague and has not been convicted.
Washington has urged the ICC to withdraw arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and has rejected the court’s previous investigation into U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched an initiative in July to “dismantle” the ICC and urged other nations to withdraw from its founding treaty.
Venezuela and Chad have since formally notified the United Nations of their intention to leave the Rome Statute, with their withdrawals scheduled to take effect in July 2027. Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali had already filed their withdrawal notices in June.
