Overview
- Late September at the U.N. General Assembly, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defended the United Nations and voiced consistent support for the International Criminal Court and said she had a frank exchange with President Donald Trump about the court.
- The United States’ sanctions on ICC president Tomoko Akane, which include asset freezes and travel bans, remain in place and have fueled calls inside Japan for a stronger government response.
- Takaichi and Trump used their meetings to pledge a tighter Japan–U.S. alliance and to agree on deeper cooperation on economic-security issues such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals.
- Analysts say Tokyo’s cautious public posture reflects limited options because Japan depends on U.S. security guarantees and is facing damaged ties with China after earlier Japanese comments on Taiwan.
- Japan now faces sustained domestic political pressure to act, ongoing diplomacy between Japanese and U.S. officials over the ICC, and possible policy tradeoffs on defense spending and investment commitments that will shape Tokyo’s next steps.