US walks out of UN session as rift with Western allies widens

NEW YORK (MNTV) — The US delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting during France’s remarks on Tuesday, escalating tensions with one of Washington’s closest allies over human rights and the role of international institutions.

The protest came during a session on Russia’s war in Ukraine, after French officials criticized the United States for opposing a second term for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

Dan Negrea, an alternate US representative, said Washington would no longer sit through what he called disrespectful rhetoric from a fellow permanent member, and accused France of applying moral criticism selectively.

The walkout followed the vote on Turk’s reappointment, which he won with 144 member states in favor, 10 opposed, and 13 abstaining.

The United States was among the 10 against — a grouping that placed it alongside governments it routinely condemns over rights abuses, which France’s mission cited in arguing that Washington had drifted from its role as a defender of human rights.

US Ambassador Mike Waltz rejected that, accusing Turk of unfairly targeting democratic nations while going easy on authoritarian ones, and US officials warned Washington could reconsider its funding and participation in international organizations.

The friction had been sharpened by Turk’s recent criticism of displacement tied to Israeli operations in Lebanon and his concerns over US immigration policy ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

France defended its stance, with Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont stressing the importance of preserving the UN system and saying Paris remained committed to working with Washington.

The confrontation reflects broader strains between the Trump administration and European allies, now extending past human rights to NATO spending, US military commitments in Europe, and disputes over Greenland.