US diplomats walk out of UN meeting as France criticizes Trump’s human rights record | Today’s news
S diplomats staged a break during a UN Security Council meeting in Ukraine on Monday (July 27th) after France sharply criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record, the latest sign of deepening tensions between Washington and one of its closest European allies.
The move came days after the United States opposed the reappointment of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, a decision that drew public criticism from France and highlighted growing differences between the two NATO partners.
A break caused by French criticism
The diplomatic standoff was sparked by a social media post by France’s UN mission in Geneva after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Friday to grant Turk a second four-year term as UN human rights chief.
The resolution passed by a vote of 144-10, with 13 abstentions, despite opposition from the United States. France supported Turk’s re-election.
After the vote, the French mission posted on social media that the United States had lost its moral authority on human rights.
“The United States used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today it stands next to North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali and Russia, isolated. And the world is no longer listening.”
The post angered Washington and set the stage for a confrontation at the Security Council on Monday.
US accuses France of ‘moral outrage’
Following a brief exit during the French representative’s remarks, Deputy US Ambassador Dan Negrea accused Paris of hypocrisy and political grandstanding.
Negrea said France was “feigning moral outrage” and trying to educate the international community on all issues, including human rights.
He argued that the United States consistently stood by France during periods when its freedom was threatened and tolerated what he described as French grandstanding out of respect for the bilateral relationship.
“Today I remind them that it is the United States that remains a beacon of freedom for the world,” Negrea said.
He added that Washington would no longer “give them the benefit of listening to their politicized babble” until France abandons what he called its “condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”
Waltz-French stock exchange dispute escalates
The the diplomatic clash has already intensified online before Monday’s meeting.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz responded to French criticism of X, accusing Paris of supporting “some of the worst human rights abusers” while backing the UN rights chief, who he said had unfairly criticized democratic countries such as the United States, Britain and Israel.
Alleged waltz that Turk spent more time lecturing on democratic governments than confronting authoritarian regimes.
Broader transatlantic tensions
The dispute reflects broader tensions in US-European relations under President Donald Trump.
Relations between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have soured on several key issues, including:
-Trump’s commitment to NATO and European security.
-A possible reduction in the deployment of US troops in Europe.
-Trump’s repeated interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, a NATO ally.
-Differences over the Iran conflict, with Trump accusing European allies of not supporting the United States during the war.
In this context, Macron has increasingly pushed for greater European strategic autonomy, advocating stronger European defense capabilities and a broader nuclear deterrent umbrella led by France and Britain.
Turk’s record at the center of the debate
As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk has often criticized governments across the political spectrum.
He condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and called on the United States to conduct what he described as a “major review” of its immigration policy ahead of the World Cup, citing concerns about racial profiling, surveillance and immigration enforcement.
His outspoken stances have drawn praise from many countries, while drawing criticism from governments that say the UN rights office has become politicized.
France avoids escalating the confrontation
Despite the dramatic US outage, French UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont chose to address the accident directly when he spoke at the end of the Security Council meeting.
Instead, Bonnafont emphasized the long-standing alliance between France and the United States, noting that France participated in the celebrations marking America’s 250th Independence Day.
He reaffirmed France’s commitment to the United Nations and its fundamental principles.
“The United Nations was created to pursue international peace and security, human rights and development,” Bonnafont said.
He added that France will continue to work to preserve the independence of the institution and its ability to uphold the UN Charter while promoting peace and human rights.
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