US walks out of UN Security Council meeting during France’s remarks

The US delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting when France spoke, in a protest against comments that compared Washington’s voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states.

The diplomatic row sparked 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 said: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore”.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused France of supporting someone who had been “lecturing” democratic countries while “cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors”.

Turk has criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The US walkout came during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, as France was speaking.

Senior US official Dan Negrea said the US delegation would continue to make similar stands until France “renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric”.

The fight over Turk’s second term, which was passed with 144 states in favour, 10 against and 13 abstentions, reflects tensions between Washington and the UN.

Washington has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities.

On Friday, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos criticised Turk’s reappointment and said “there will be consequences” to the assembly which “tolerates procedural overreach, backroom deals, and the misuse of UN posts”.

“The United States will immediately reassess our engagement, participation, and funding”.

However, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont described Turk on Friday 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, adding the UN expected all member states to respect the decision.