France’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva has said it “regrets” a social media post that questioned America’s commitment to human rights, ending a six-week row that prompted a US walkout at the Security Council and delayed the approval of France’s next ambassador in Washington.
The Geneva mission now says the July message “called into question the U.S. commitment to human rights”. The disagreement, it added, “concerned one vote, and not the defence of human rights”.
Public differences on a single ballot “do not stand in the way of close dialogue with the United States, and do not call into question our historical alliance, nor our ability to work together to advance peace, stability and prosperity, including within multilateral forums”.
The statement, published in English on Friday, referred to a 25 July post on X after the UN General Assembly voted 144–10, with 13 abstentions, to give High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk a second four-year term.
France voted yes. The United States voted no, in company with Russia, North Korea, Nicaragua and Mali, among others.
“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,” the French mission wrote.
Two days later American diplomats walked out of a Security Council meeting on Ukraine as France’s UN ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, began to speak. Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, accused Paris of voting for an official who “lectured” democracies including the United States, Britain and Israel “while cozying up to the world’s worst oppressors”.
Washington then withheld accreditation for Aurélien Lechevallier, President Emmanuel Macron’s choice to succeed Laurent Bili.
Lechevallier, a close Macron aide and chief of staff to foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot, is the usual sort of appointment that receiving states approve as a formality.
The Quai d’Orsay declined to add anything. A US State Department official told AFP: “We note and appreciate France’s statement, and look forward to working together to further shared values and interests.”
AFP reported that US officials expect Lechevallier’s posting to proceed.
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
