Rubio cites ‘necessity’ of U.S. sanctions on ICC in call with Japanese counterpart

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shakes hands with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as they meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 21. | POOL / VIA AFP-JIJI

Oct 11, 2026

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “raised the necessity of U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court” during a telephone call with his Japanese counterpart over the weekend — further highlighting the allies’ conflicting views.

Rubio told Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi that U.S. sanctions on the ICC were needed “as a result of the Court’s rogue actions that threaten American sovereignty,” according to a State Department readout of their meeting.

A Japanese readout released late Saturday by the Foreign Ministry said Motegi had “conveyed the Japanese government’s position on the recent U.S. institutional sanctions,” with the two top diplomats agreeing “to maintain close communication.”

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