Key facts
- France apologized to the U.S. for a social media post questioning its human rights record.
- The dispute arose from differing positions on a single vote at the U.N. General Assembly.
- The U.S. had reportedly blocked the confirmation of French diplomat Aurélien Lechevallier as ambassador to Washington.
- France's mission to the U.N. in Geneva posted the critical remark on X in July.
- The U.S. State Department accepted the apology and looks forward to collaboration.
France has defused a social media row with the U.S. after an online spat over voting in the U.N. General Assembly reportedly led to the delay in the confirmation of Paris’ envoy to Washington.
In a statement on Friday, France’s mission to the U.N. in Geneva made amends for an online remark it posted in July questioning Washington’s commitment to human rights. "France and the United States recently adopted divergent positions during a vote at the United Nations General Assembly. This divergence concerned a single vote and did not relate to the defense of human rights," the statement read.
"Differences in public opinion on a vote do not impede close dialogue with the United States and do not call into question our historic alliance, nor our ability to work together to promote peace, stability and prosperity, including within multilateral forums."
The U.S. State Department responded positively to the apology. "We take note of France’s statement and appreciate it; we look forward to collaborating with them to promote our common values and interests," a State Department official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The appointment of French diplomat Aurélien Lechevallier as ambassador to the U.S. was blocked by Washington as a result of the spat, France24 reports.
The dispute began in July when the French mission to the U.N. in Geneva posted on X that “The U.S. used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.” This comment came after the U.S. voted against renewing the term of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Two days later after the French mission’s social media post, the U.S. walked out of a U.N. security council meeting when France’s representative began to speak.
The apology from France and acceptance from the U.S. paves the way for Lechevallier to be confirmed for the Washington role. Currently chief of staff to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Lechevallier is set to replace Laurent Bili as France’s U.S. envoy.
It’s not the first time the two countries have had a diplomatic spat. Last year, France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner after he published an open letter accusing President Emmanuel Macron’s government of not doing enough to combat rising antisemitism in his country.