US walks out of UN Security Council meeting during France's remarks
The US delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, protesting French comments comparing Washington's human rights voting to authoritarian regimes.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- US delegation walked out of UN Security Council over French remarks
- Diplomatic row stems from a vote against Volker Turk's UN term extension
- US Ambassador Dan Negrea warns of reassessing UN engagement and funding
The United States delegation staged a walkout during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, registering a strong protest against comments made by France that drew parallels between Washington's voting record on human rights and the practices of authoritarian states.
This diplomatic friction was originally ignited the previous week when the US aligned with North Korea and Russia to vote against extending the tenure of Volker Turk as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Turk had previously voiced criticisms regarding Russia's military campaign in Ukraine and Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This confrontation highlights the widening chasm between Washington and international bodies under the Trump administration, which has systematically cut funding to various UN agencies and withdrawn from multiple entities. The public spat underscores a broader, more confrontational US foreign policy stance toward multilateral institutions.
US Ambassador Dan Negrea stated that the American delegation would persist with similar protests until France renounces what he termed their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric. Despite the US opposition, the vote to secure Turk's second term ultimately passed with 144 member states voting in favour, 10 against, and 13 abstentions.
Addressing the broader fallout, Negrea warned that "The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding." Meanwhile, Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to comment directly on the American walkout, noting only that the organization expects all member states to respect institutional decisions.
Source: BBC World
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