Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi backs ICC and multilateralism in UN debut
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used her first UN General Assembly address to reaffirm Japan’s support for the International Criminal Court and multilateral cooperation, while avoiding direct criticism of U.S. sanctions on the court’s president.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared Japan’s continued backing of the International Criminal Court and broader multilateralism, while noting the “very unfortunate” U.S. sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane without naming the United States as a target. She described Japan as a peace-loving nation adhering to a strictly defensive posture, countering Chinese claims of rising neo-militarism.
Takaichi warned that the stable era after the Cold War is over, yet argued the UN is more crucial than ever for peace and stability. She condemned unilateral actions, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine as a prime example, and called for North Korea’s denuclearisation. The prime minister also announced plans for an AI summit in Japan, a partnership to boost energy and resource resilience in the Gulf, and emphasized that climate action can coexist with economic growth.
Why it matters
The speech signals Japan’s diplomatic stance on international justice, security challenges and future tech cooperation.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 ICC leaders warn diplomatic isolation threatens global rule of law
- Sep 11 The United States imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer.
- Sep 17 A UN fact-finding mission concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe US forces carried out two February attacks in Iran that qualify as war crimes, and it also documented crimes against humanity by Iranian authorities during the protest crackdown.
- Sep 17 The UN experts also accused Iranian authorities of crimes against humanity for suppressing protests.
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