In a rare diplomatic rift between long-time allies, American diplomats walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting while French representatives were taking the floor.
The unexpected protest took place during a scheduled session on Ukraine following sharp French criticism of Washington’s global human rights stance.
Sparks fly over human rights
The feud erupted after the United States opposed granting UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk a second four-year term. Criticizing Washington’s stance, France’s UN Mission posted on social media that “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.”
The statement added that Washington now “stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated.”
Strong Words from Washington
Hitting back, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz accused France of “cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors.” Inside the council chamber, Deputy U.S. Ambassador Dan Negrea slammed Paris for “disingenuous grandstanding” and declared that “it is the United States that remains the beacon of liberty for the world.”
He stated that diplomats would not hear France’s “politicized drivel until they renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”
France stands its ground
French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont did not directly reference the walkout when he spoke. Instead, he reminded the chamber that “The United Nations was created with the goal of working towards international peace and security, human rights and development.” He emphasized that France works to “preserve this institution, its independence, its ability to act in service of the charter.”
