US, French regimes trade barbs in fight over UN rights chief’s second term

Source: Reuters

“The U.S. walked out as France addressed a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Monday, accusing its longtime ally of ‘disingenuous grandstanding’ over ​French comments comparing the U.S. to North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian ‌states regarding votes on human rights issues. The move followed a tense weekend exchange between the two permanent Security Council members on X in which France blasted Washington for joining Russia, North Korea and ​seven other countries in voting against a proposal to extend the term ​of Volker Turk as the U.N. rights chief for four more years. … The U.N. General Assembly ‌on ⁠Friday voted overwhelmingly to extend the term of Turk, an outspoken critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza who has also called for investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration custody. The term extension has been opposed by Russia, Israel and ​others, with Washington ​threatening to reassess its ⁠funding and engagement.” (07/27/26)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-france-trade-barbs-fight-over-un-rights-chiefs-second-term-2026-07-27/