Takaichi again in a bind as U.S. threatens to ‘end’ ICC

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi participates in a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 22. | REUTERS

Oct 11, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has again found herself in a tough spot after the U.S., Tokyo’s key security ally, slapped the International Criminal Court with fresh sanctions, months after it targeted the Japanese head of the court with similar measures.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday ordered the Treasury Department to add the entire court to its Specially Designated Nationals list, a move that would impose financial punishment on any entity that does business with the ICC. 

The announcement was a step beyond his administration’s targeted sanctions against top court officials, including ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national.

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