Japan eyes early contribution payment to ICC as court faces U.S. sanctions

Tokyo is considering paying its 2027 contributions to the International Criminal Court ahead of schedule, in light of U.S. sanctions against the ICC, government sources have said.

In October, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump designated the ICC for sanctions, giving a 180-day moratorium. It had already announced sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane in August.

If the sanctions are fully implemented as early as April next year, the ICC could be cut off from dollar-based settlements, potentially disrupting its operations, including staff salary payments.

“If nothing is done, the ICC could soon face a funding shortfall,” a Japanese government official said Friday.

Tokyo has paid its annual contributions to the ICC after April each year, based on its new fiscal-year budget.

If the government decides to make an advance payment for 2027, it could include the necessary funds in a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2026.

The ICC’s 2026 budget totals about €196 million, or about ¥34.5 billion. Japan contributed about ¥4.6 billion this year, the largest amount by a single country.

Akane, a Japanese national, has requested early contributions from her home country.

“We will consider what financial measures we can take while continuing to communicate with President Akane and relevant countries,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a news conference Thursday.