France apologizes to US after dispute that blocked ambassador's appointment

France has resolved a social media dispute with the United States that stemmed from disagreement over a vote at the UN General Assembly, according to Politico, as reported by Yevropeiska Pravda.

In a statement issued Friday, France's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva apologized for a comment posted online in July that questioned Washington's commitment to human rights. The statement said the disagreement concerned a single vote and was not related to human rights protection more broadly. The French mission stressed that differences of opinion over the vote do not hinder close dialogue with the United States or call into question the two countries' historic alliance and their ability to cooperate on peace, stability and prosperity, including within multilateral forums.

The US State Department responded positively to the apology. According to AFP, a State Department official, speaking anonymously, said the US acknowledges and appreciates France's statement and looks forward to working together to advance shared values and interests.

How the dispute began

As a result of the conflict, Washington had blocked the appointment of French diplomat Aurélien Lechevallier as ambassador to the United States. The dispute began in July, when France's mission to the UN in Geneva posted on X that the US used to be a model for human rights but no longer was. The comment followed a US vote against extending the mandate of UN human rights commissioner Volker Türk. Two days later, US representatives walked out of a UN Security Council meeting as France's representative began speaking.

With France's apology now accepted by the US, the path is clear for Lechevallier's confirmation as ambassador. He currently serves as chief of staff to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and is set to replace Laurent Bili in the post.

This is not the first diplomatic friction between the two countries. In February, a row erupted after France's foreign minister summoned the US ambassador over comments related to the killing of a French far-right activist. In late August, the US ambassador was again summoned by France's Foreign Ministry after criticism over what Paris called inadequate measures against antisemitism.