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The US delegation left the chamber in New York as France’s representative began to speak during an emergency Security Council session focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to BBC News. The departure protested comments from the French UN mission that followed a contentious General Assembly vote on Friday. A senior American official told reporters the delegation would continue such stands until Paris renounced what he described as condemning and disrespectful rhetoric toward Washington.
The General Assembly approved a second four-year term for Volker Türk as UN high commissioner for human rights by a vote of 144 in favor to 10 against with 13 abstentions, the Associated Press reported. The United States joined Russia, Israel and North Korea in opposing the reappointment while attempting to delay the ballot for further consultations. Reuters noted that no previous rights chief had served two full terms in the post, making Türk’s extension a notable development in UN history.
France’s UN mission in Geneva stated that the US used to be a beacon of human rights but no longer held that position, according to accounts of the diplomatic exchange. In response, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused France of backing an official who lectured democracies while aligning with the world’s worst oppressors. French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont had earlier praised Türk as a voice of conscience who showed rigor and impartiality in his first term, a Reuters dispatch indicated.
Türk has drawn criticism from several powers for his assessments of ongoing conflicts, Al Jazeera reported. The high commissioner has publicly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and raised concerns over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, positions that factored into the opposition to his reappointment. A UN expert update from June 2026 further highlighted Türk’s warnings about an onslaught against international law causing widespread civilian harm across multiple regions.
The dispute underscores broader strains in US relations with the United Nations under the current administration, according to a Reuters analysis. Washington has previously cut funding to various UN agencies and withdrawn from multiple entities, with Ambassador Jeff Bartos warning on Friday that the assembly’s actions would prompt an immediate reassessment of American engagement, participation and contributions. Deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to comment directly on the walkout but stressed that the organization expected all member states to respect collective decisions.
The Monday session had been convened to address the Ukraine conflict, where Türk’s office has documented extensive human rights violations, BBC News reported. Senior US official Dan Negrea reiterated that similar protests would recur absent a change in French messaging on the matter. The exchange adds to a series of public confrontations that have marked recent UN proceedings involving human rights appointments and funding disputes.
