US Walks Out of UN Security Council Meeting During France's Remarks
A rare public confrontation between the United States and France unfolded at the United Nations Security Council on Monday when the US delegation walked out of the chamber as France's ambassador began speaking. The walkout, reported by multiple outlets including BBC, Dawn, France 24, and TASS, was a protest against French comments that compared Washington's voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states.
The diplomatic row originated on Friday after the US joined North Korea and Russia in voting against extending Volker Turk's term as UN high commissioner for human rights. After the vote, France's UN Mission in Geneva criticized Washington's position, saying, as quoted by BBC, Dawn, and France 24: "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore."
In response, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused France of supporting someone who, according to BBC and Dawn, had been "lecturing" democratic countries while "cozying up to the world's worst oppressors." The US delegation's walkout occurred during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia's war in Ukraine, as France was speaking.
Senior US official Dan Negrea said, as reported by BBC and France 24, that the US delegation would continue to make similar stands until France "renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric." He described France's comments as "politicised drivel" and "disingenuous grandstanding."
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Friday to extend Turk's term, with 144 states in favor, 10 against, and 13 abstentions, according to BBC and France 24. Turk has criticized Russia's war in Ukraine and Israel's conduct in Gaza, as noted by BBC and Dawn.
The fight over Turk's second term reflects deepening tensions between the Trump administration and the United Nations, BBC reported. Washington has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities, as stated by BBC. The US threatened to reassess its funding and engagement with the UN following the vote, according to France 24.
French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, as quoted by BBC, described Turk as "a voice of conscience" who demonstrated "rigor and impartiality" during his first term. Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to comment on the US walkout, BBC reported, adding that the UN expected all member states to respect the decision.