UNITED NATIONS: Differences between longtime allies the United States and France have intensified over the reappointment of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk for a second term.
According to international media reports, tensions escalated over the weekend after the United States voted against Türk’s reappointment at the United Nations, alongside Russia, North Korea and seven other countries.
France criticised Washington after the US walked out of a UN meeting on Ukraine, accusing its longtime ally of double standards by comparing its position with that of Russia and North Korea.
US representative Mike Waltz, meanwhile, accused France of backing Türk and criticised Paris for targeting democratic countries such as the United States and Israel while, in his words, siding with authoritarian states.
The dispute highlights growing differences between Washington and Paris over human rights and international affairs, despite their longstanding alliance.
