US and France clash at the United Nations as walkout highlights tensions over Volker Türk and human rights policy

US diplomats left the UN Security Council chamber on Monday as France spoke on Ukraine. The exit followed a dispute over UN human rights chief Volker TÜrk. Washington opposed giving TÜrk another four-year term. US officials later accused a close European ally of "disingenuous grandstanding" over US human rights policy.

The walkout came after the General Assembly backed TÜrk on Friday by 144-10, with 13 abstentions. France supported the reappointment. The US was among the "no" votes. The incident added to wider strains between the United States and Europe. It also reflected friction between President Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron.

The trigger was a Friday social media post from France’s UN Mission in Geneva. The post criticised US opposition to TÜrk’s second term. "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it," the French Mission tweeted.

Deputy US ambassador Dan Negrea responded after the brief exit. Dan Negrea accused France of feigning "moral outrage" and acting as if France lectured others. Dan Negrea said the United States backed France in every conflict where its "freedom has been imperiled". Dan Negrea added the US had tolerated grandstanding "out of a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect," but not anymore.

Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, replied on X. Mike Waltz accused France of coddling "some of the worst human rights abusers". Mike Waltz said France voted "for someone who has been lecturing, free, sovereign democracies like the United States, the UK, and Israel, while cozying up to the world's worst oppressors."

TÜrk’s position often required public criticism of member states. Volker TÜrk sharply criticised Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Volker TÜrk also criticised Israel’s war in Gaza. Volker TÜrk earlier urged a "massive rethink" of US immigration policy before the World Cup. Volker TÜrk cited "racial profiling, surveillance and immigration enforcement."

UN human rights dispute set against US-Europe security tensions

Dan Negrea focused remarks on France during Monday’s meeting. "Today, I remind them that it is the United States that remains the beacon of liberty for the world," he said. "As such, we will not be affording them the benefit of listening to their politicized drivel until they renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric and behave in a manner commensurate with their seat on this council."

France’s UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont did not mention the walkout when offered the floor. Jerome Bonnafont noted France helped the United States gain independence. Jerome Bonnafont also cited France’s role in the July 4 celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. "The United Nations was created with the goal of working towards international peace and security, human rights and development," he said. "All of that forms the spirit in which France works within the United Nations ... to preserve this institution, its independence, its ability to act in service of the charter and act to serve human rights and peace."

The dispute unfolded amid broader questions over NATO and US troop levels in Europe. President Donald Trump also raised interest in controlling Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. President Donald Trump complained Europeans were not consulted during the Iran war. Emmanuel Macron took a lead on Europe’s military plans. Emmanuel Macron also pushed a nuclear umbrella, alongside Britain.