The US delegation walked out of a UN Security Council meeting when France spoke, protesting comments comparing Washington’s voting on human rights to that of authoritarian states.

The diplomatic row erupted on Friday after the United States joined North Korea and Russia in voting against extending Volker Turk’s term as UN high commissioner for human rights.

After the vote, France’s Mission to the UN in Geneva said: “The United States used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.”

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz accused France of supporting someone who had been “lecturing” democratic countries while “reaching out to the world’s worst oppressors”.

Turk has criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The US strike came during an emergency Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, while France spoke.

Senior U.S. official Dan Negrea said the U.S. delegation would continue to take similar stances until France “renounces its condescending and disrespectful rhetoric.”

The fight for Turk’s second term, which was approved with 144 states in favor, 10 against and 13 abstentions, reflects tensions between Washington and the UN.

Washington has cut funding to UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities.

On Friday, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos criticized Turk’s reelection, saying “there will be consequences” for the assembly that “tolerates procedural overreach, secret deals and the misuse of U.N. positions.”

“The United States will immediately re-evaluate our commitment, participation and funding.”

However, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont described Turk on Friday as “a voice of conscience” who demonstrated “rigor and impartiality” during his first term.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq declined to comment on the US strike, adding that the UN expected all member states to respect the decision.