US Walks Out of UN Security Council Meeting with France

The United States delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting Monday in protest of remarks by France comparing American voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states. The diplomatic dispute stems from Friday's vote on extending Volker Turk's term as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The US joined North Korea and Russia in voting against the extension, prompting France's UN mission to post on social media that "the US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore." US Ambassador Mike Waltz responded by criticizing France's support for Turk, accusing him of "lecturing" democracies while "cozying up to the world's worst oppressors." The walkout occurred during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia's war in Ukraine. Ambassador Dan Negrea stated the US would continue such protests until France "renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric." Turk's reappointment passed with 144 states in favor, 10 against, and 13 abstentions.