Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane met on Friday to discuss possible support from Japan after the US imposed sanctions on her, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.
The meeting came amid pressure on the ICC and President Akane from the US administration. Washington placed her on a sanctions list, a move believed to be linked to ICC investigations into certain US officials over past conflicts.
Following the meeting, a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that both sides held an open exchange on the current situation and possible support measures Tokyo could consider for the ICC and Akane personally, who is the first Japanese judge to lead the international court.
Analysts suggest the US move could heighten tensions with allies like Japan, which has long backed the ICC's independent role in prosecuting war crimes and human rights violations. There has been no official US response to the meeting between Motegi and Akane.
