France criticizes US over vote on UN human rights chief
The US delegation walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting Monday while France’s ambassador Jerome Bonnafont was speaking, in protest at France’s comparison of Washington’s voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states.
US ambassador Dan Negrea said after the walkout that the delegation would continue to make similar protests until France “renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”
The dispute stems from a vote Friday at the UN General Assembly, where the US joined North Korea and Russia in voting against extending Volker Turk’s second term as High Commissioner for Human Rights. The reappointment was approved with 144 states in favor, 10 against and 13 abstentions.
After that vote, France’s UN mission posted on X that “the US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore,” comparing Washington’s voting record to that of authoritarian states. US ambassador Mike Waltz responded by accusing France of voting for a human rights chief who had been “lecturing” democratic countries while “cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors,” without elaborating. Turk has criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s military conduct in Gaza.
At the General Assembly vote on Friday, US ambassador Jeff Bartos criticized Turk’s reappointment, saying there would be “consequences” to an assembly that “tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts.” He added that the US would “immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding.”
The Trump administration has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of its entities.
France’s ambassador Bonnafont, speaking during the Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, 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 walkout, adding the UN expected all member states to respect the decision.