WASHINGTON: A rare diplomatic rift between two longstanding Western allies unfolded at the United Nations Security Council on Monday when the US delegation walked out as France’s ambassador began addressing the chamber.
The incident followed an escalating dispute over human rights, the future of the UN system and Washington’s opposition to extending the mandate of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
While the United States and France traded sharp criticism over the issue, Pakistan avoided taking sides, instead using its remarks to call for diplomacy and highlight concerns over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The disagreement stemmed from a recent UN General Assembly vote to extend Turk’s four-year term. The resolution passed with overwhelming support, receiving 144 votes in favour, while the United States was among only 10 countries to oppose it.
Following the vote, France’s mission to the UN in Geneva criticised Washington’s position, stating: “The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.”
The French statement also noted that the United States had voted alongside countries including Russia and North Korea, drawing a strong reaction from Washington.
The Trump administration argued that the UN human rights system had become politically selective, accusing the High Commissioner’s office of focusing disproportionately on democratic nations such as the United States and Israel while failing to hold authoritarian governments sufficiently accountable.
US Representative Jeff Bartos warned that the vote would have “consequences” and said it could lead to a broader review of US financial support for UN institutions.
The dispute then spilled into the Security Council chamber when the American delegation briefly walked out as French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont began speaking.
After returning, Alternate US Representative Dan Negrea criticised France’s remarks, calling them “disingenuous grandstanding” and “politicised drivel.”
He said the United States would continue walking out during French statements until Paris withdrew what he described as “condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”
US Ambassador Mike Waltz also defended the protest, accusing France of diverting attention from its own policies and claiming Paris had chosen to “coddle some of the world’s worst human rights abusers” by backing Turk’s reappointment.
France, however, stood by its position and defended the independence of the UN human rights system. Ambassador Bonnafont did not directly mention the US walkout during his address but stressed the longstanding relationship between France and the United States, referencing recent joint celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary while reaffirming France’s commitment to an independent multilateral order.
The exchange underscored broader tensions between Washington and several of its traditional allies over the role and direction of international institutions.
Pakistan, meanwhile, remained outside the dispute. Addressing the same Security Council session, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, focused on the conflict in Ukraine.
Pakistan expressed “deep concern” over the continued escalation of the war, warning that attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure were inflicting a heavy humanitarian toll while worsening global food and energy insecurity, particularly for developing countries.
