US diplomats walk out during France's UN Security Council speech

Diplomats from the US Mission to the United Nations walked out of the UN Security Council chamber on Monday, July 27, during France's address in protest over remarks made by French diplomats about Washington last week.

The seats reserved for the US delegation remained empty throughout France's speech. American diplomats returned to the chamber after the address concluded, Caliber.Az reports.

“I must point out that there is a member of this Council that will feign moral outrage and pretend to lecture the rest of us about every topic, whether it’s about the very conflict we’re discussing yet again today, or even those unrelated to international peace and security, like human rights. That is why we walked out during France's intervention,” US Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council Dan Negrea said.

The walkout was prompted by a post on X from France's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva concerning the extension of the mandate of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.#AmericaAlone https://t.co/GLNMsYEH9n pic.twitter.com/UTVvljTMeO

— France ONU Genève 🇫🇷🇺🇳 (@FranceONUGeneve) July 25, 2026

During the vote at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States joined Russia in opposing a four-year extension of Türk's mandate, while France voted in favour. Following the vote, French diplomats said, "The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore."

By Jeyhun Aghazada