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U.S. diplomats walk out as France likens US to dictators

7/28/2026

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US Diplomats Walkout

U.S. diplomats walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday as France criticized the United States.
France likened the United States to North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian regimes over recent human-rights votes.
Ambassador Mike Waltz said France supported a chief “cozy[s] up to the world’s worst oppressors.”
UN General Assembly approved extending Volker Turk’s term 144-10-13, following Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s proposal.

Right

US Diplomats Walkout

U.S. diplomats walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday as France criticized the United States.
U.S. officials said the walkout was a principled refusal to tolerate France’s disingenuous grandstanding on human-rights.
Dan Negrea, U.S. delegation official, called France’s remarks disingenuous grandstanding and deemed the walkout necessary.
Nile Gardiner of Heritage Foundation said France owes existence to the United States, urging gratitude.

History

Historical Context

On 14 February 2003 the 15-member United Nations Security Council heard a three-minute U.S. dossier and voted 14-0-1 against immediate action, while France and Russia readied vetoes. The debate followed the 2002 unanimous Resolution 1441 and a Feb 24 U.S.–UK–Spain draft that set a 17 March deadline but was withdrawn after permanent-member opposition. The impasse deepened U.S.–France mistrust and still shapes Council debates on human-rights accountability.

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US Diplomats Walkout

U.S. diplomats walked out of a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday as France criticized the United States.
France likened the United States to North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian regimes over recent human-rights votes.
Ambassador Mike Waltz said France supported a chief “cozy[s] up to the world’s worst oppressors.”
UN General Assembly approved extending Volker Turk’s term 144-10-13, following Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s proposal.

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