The United States staged a rare walkout during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday in protest against remarks made by France’s ambassador, who had criticised Washington’s stance on human rights.
The meeting, which focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine, was briefly disrupted when the French representative began speaking. The US delegation left the chamber in response to comments comparing America’s recent voting record on human rights issues to that of countries such as North Korea and Russia.
Dan Negrea, a senior US delegation official and alternate representative to the UN General Assembly, defended the decision, accusing France of engaging in political posturing and attempting to lecture other nations on issues beyond the council’s agenda. He maintained that the United States remains a global symbol of liberty and said the delegation would not remain to listen to what he described as politicised criticism.
The disagreement follows a vote at the UN General Assembly last Friday, where the United States joined several countries in opposing the extension of Volker Türk’s tenure as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. France’s mission to the UN in Geneva subsequently criticised the US position, saying Washington had become isolated by aligning itself with countries often criticised for their human rights records.
Responding to the American walkout, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont defended his country’s position and highlighted the longstanding relationship between France and the United States, noting that the two nations share deep historical ties. He added that France remains committed to strengthening the United Nations, protecting its independence, promoting human rights, and supporting international peace through its work in both the Security Council and the General Assembly.
The incident marked an unusual diplomatic confrontation between two permanent members of the Security Council, both of whom hold veto powers within the UN.
