US staged a walkout during a UN Security Council meeting in response to France’s criticism regarding human rights issues
The United States staged a walkout at a UN Security Council meeting following France’s criticism of Washington’s human rights stance, further escalating tensions.
The United States staged a walkout at a United Nations Security Council meeting following France’s criticism of Washington’s human rights record, heightening diplomatic tensions between the two allies.
The protest occurred on Monday while France’s ambassador to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonnafont, spoke at an emergency Security Council session regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine. The US delegation left the chamber following France’s critique of Washington’s recent voting history on human rights.
The disagreement arose after the vote last week regarding the extension of Volker Türk’s mandate as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States voted alongside Russia and North Korea against his reappointment, a choice that elicited strong criticism from France.
After the vote, France’s UN mission criticized Washington for forsaking its historical leadership in human rights, stating on X that the United States had previously been “a beacon of human rights” but no longer deserved that label.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz rejected the criticism, contending that Türk had dedicated his first term to criticizing democratic nations while neglecting to address some of the most oppressive governments in the world. He did not clarify which countries he was alluding to.
Turk has consistently voiced his opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has frequently articulated his worries regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
US Ambassador Dan Negrea justified the walkout, stating that Washington would persist in organizing similar protests until France retracted what he referred to as its “condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”
Despite opposition from the US, the UN General Assembly endorsed Türk’s second term with a vote tally of 144 in favor, while 10 countries voted against and 13 chose to abstain.
The dispute highlights the wider tensions between Washington and the United Nations during President Trump’s time in office, characterized by reduced funding for various UN agencies and withdrawal from several UN bodies.
Following Friday’s vote, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos expressed criticism regarding the process that led to Türk’s reappointment, cautioning that the United States would reevaluate its involvement, engagement, and financial backing for UN institutions.
France, on the other hand, stood by Türk’s record, with Ambassador Bonnafont characterizing him as “a voice of conscience” who had fulfilled his duties with fairness and impartiality during his initial term.
The United Nations refrained from providing a direct comment on the US protest, with deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stating merely that the organization anticipates all member states to uphold the decisions made by the General Assembly.
