EU slams US sanctions on International Criminal Court officials

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on Wednesday voiced strong support for the International Criminal Court after the United States imposed fresh sanctions on its president and a senior prosecutor, warning that judicial independence must be preserved to deliver justice for victims.

"The ICC helps deliver justice to the victims of some of the world's most horrific crimes. To carry out this essential work, its judges and officials must be able to act independently and without external pressure," they wrote on X. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc "deeply regrets" Washington's decision to target ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, stressing that the court must be free from "pressure, intimidation or interference."

International community rejects pressure

The British Foreign Office told Anadolu that London supports the court's independence and remains determined to hold perpetrators of serious international crimes to account. German Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Martin Giese said Berlin stands by the court, noting that "the ICC has exposed heinous crimes against humanity. It has held accountable those guilty of the gravest crimes. It is thus fulfilling its mandate exactly as intended." The Spanish Foreign Ministry deplored the measures as a "flagrant attack" on the court's integrity, while French diplomats condemned any coercion against ICC staff and the Dutch Foreign Minister disapproved of sanctions that prevent tribunals from carrying out their mandates.

The Hague-based court earlier rejected the designations as "flagrant attacks" on judicial independence, noting that nine of its 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former prosecutor and one staff member now face US sanctions imposed under President Donald Trump's February 2025 measures. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington to lift the "unacceptable" sanctions and called on states to defend institutions upholding human rights and protect targeted court officials.