US, France trade barbs in fight over UN rights chief's extension

The U.S. walked out as France addressed a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday, accusing its longtime ally of "disingenuous grandstanding" over French comments comparing the U.S. to North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states regarding votes on human rights issues.



The move followed a tense weekend exchange between the two permanent Security Council members on X in which France blasted Washington for joining Russia, North Korea and seven other countries in voting against a proposal to extend the term of Volker Turk as the U.N. rights chief for four more years.



U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz responded by accusing France of backing a human rights chief who he said criticizes democratic nations like the U.S. and Israel while "cozying up to the world's worst oppressors." He did not elaborate.



Speaking during a U.N. Security Council session on Russia's war against Ukraine, Dan Negrea, an alternate U.S. representative to the U.N., said the U.S. delegation had exited during France's remarks and would continue to do so until they "renounce their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric."



He said France's comments amounted to "politicized drivel" and "disingenuous grandstanding."