Potential candidate for Nobel Peace Prize is expected to face opposition from Ukrainian groups, ICC and Trump

[London Current Affairs] This year's Nobel Prizes will be announced from the 5th. The much-anticipated Peace Prize will be awarded on the 9th, and the leading candidates include human rights organizations in Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which judges crimes against humanity. The ICC is viewed as an enemy by US President Trump, and winning the award is bound to spark controversy.

[Photo Feature] Nobel Peace Prize Winners

A total of 287 organizations and individuals have been nominated for the Peace Prize. In September, the Oslo International Peace Research Institute, which predicts the winners every year, named Save Ukraine, a Ukrainian organization that works to rescue children abducted by Russia, and Save the Children, an international NGO that supports children, as its top candidates. Sudanese humanitarian groups, organizations to protect journalists, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are also considered likely candidates. Both the ICC and ICJ are headed by Japanese people.

The Trump administration, which views the war crimes investigation into US soldiers as a challenge to sovereignty, is increasing pressure on the ICC by asking member states to withdraw from the ICC and designating ICC Director Tomoko Akane and others as targets for sanctions. The award could send a strong message to the world about the importance of the rule of law and multilateral cooperation, but it is likely to further harden Trump's stance.

Mr Trump himself has made no secret of his ambitions to win the award, but it is seen as highly unlikely that he will be selected as the US military continues its military campaign against Iran.

Last year's winner was Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado. However, Machado later handed over the medal in an attempt to win Trump's favor. The fact that it was used as a political gift caused controversy. In order to avoid a repeat of this situation, there is speculation that this year, Pope Leo XIV and other ``people who can stand up to Trump'' will be selected. On the other hand, it cannot be ruled out that it could be given to grassroots humanitarian organizations to avoid friction.

The awards will be announced on the 5th for the Physiology and Medicine Prize, the 6th for the Physics Prize, the 7th for the Chemistry Prize, the 8th for the Literature Prize, and the 12th for the Economics Prize. The award ceremony will be held on December 10th, with the Peace Prize being held in Oslo and the others in Stockholm.