U.S. briefing

France's UN mission expresses regret over July social media message

France's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva issued a statement on September 11 expressing regret over a message it posted on X on July 25.

Aerial view of Les Ormeaux, surrounded by trees and lawns in Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland
Les Ormeaux and its wooded grounds in Pregny-Chambésy, with Lake Geneva in the background.

France's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva expressed regret on Friday, September 11, over a message it had posted on X on July 25. The statement, published that evening, addressed the promotion and defense of human rights.

The earlier message criticized the US vote against renewing the mandate of Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. The French delegation argued that the United States had abandoned its former leadership on human rights and become isolated.

The US State Department responded to the message by freezing approval for France's incoming ambassador to Washington, Aurélien Lechevallier. Appointed at the end of June, Lechevallier was chief of staff to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and was due to succeed Laurent Bili.