The president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, on Friday warned of the “demise of the rule of law” after the United States sanctioned her and the ICC’s senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye.

“The sanction against me this time was something I had anticipated to an extent, so I’m not surprised,” Ms Akane said in a statement on X by her publisher, Bungei Shunju.

She added, “The important thing is not to let this be the beginning of the demise of international rule of law.”

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced the sanctions, including travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on services from U.S. companies, over what it described as “corrupt and fatally politicised” activities of the tribunal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement, accused the officials of directly engaging in the ICC’s efforts to prosecute officials whose government “has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.” 

Washington had repeatedly said that the Hague-based tribunal “has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate” and that the campaign to dismantle “threats posed by the ICC” will be “sweeping.”

It also maintained that the international tribunal has “repeatedly” attempted to exercise authority over U.S. nationals and other countries that have not ratified the Rome Statute.

The ICC criticised the Trump administration’s decision, calling it a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa reaffirmed their support for the tribunal following the sanctions.

“The ICC helps deliver justice to the victims of some of the world’s most horrific crimes,” both leaders said in a statement.

“To carry out this essential work, its judges and officials must be able to act independently and without external pressure,” the statement added.