US diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on the Russia-Ukraine war as France’s Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont began addressing the chamber, marking an escalation in a widening diplomatic dispute between Washington and Paris.
The walkout followed France’s criticism of the United States after it opposed the reappointment of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, whose second four-year term was approved by the UN General Assembly with 144 votes in favour.
France’s UN mission said Washington had become isolated on human rights, prompting US Ambassador Mike Waltz to accuse Volker Türk of unfairly targeting democratic nations while overlooking authoritarian governments.
Dan Negrea, the US Alternate Representative to the UN, said the delegation would continue walking out during French statements until Paris withdrew what he described as “condescending and disrespectful rhetoric”.
The dispute adds to broader US-France disagreements over NATO spending, trade policy, Greenland and Middle East security, despite both countries remaining longstanding allies.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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