US walks out of UN Security Council meeting during France's remarks

What the report says

BBC World News reported that the United States delegation left a UN Security Council session in New York on Monday as France was delivering remarks during an emergency meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine. The walkout was described as a protest over French criticism of Washington’s recent vote on a human rights post.

The dispute began after the US voted alongside North Korea and Russia against renewing Volker Turk’s mandate as UN high commissioner for human rights. France’s UN Mission in Geneva responded by saying the US had once been a human rights “beacon,” but no longer was. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz rejected France’s position, accusing Paris of backing an official who he said had criticized democratic governments while being too close to oppressive regimes.

According to the BBC, Turk’s second term was nevertheless approved by a wide margin, with 144 countries voting in favor, 10 opposed and 13 abstaining. Turk has publicly criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s actions in Gaza. French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont defended him as a conscientious and impartial figure, while US Ambassador Jeff Bartos warned that Washington would review its UN engagement, participation and funding after the vote.

The episode highlights wider strains between the US and the United Nations, including Washington’s cuts to some UN funding and withdrawals from multiple UN bodies. Senior US official Dan Negrea said similar protests would continue unless France withdrew what he called disrespectful rhetoric. A deputy UN spokesperson declined to address the walkout directly, saying member states were expected to respect UN decisions.