The U.S. Department of State has not yet approved Aurélien Lechevallier as France's new ambassador to Washington following a diplomatic disagreement over a U.N. human rights mandate.

The United States is delaying the approval of President Emmanuel Macron’s choice for French ambassador to Washington, Aurélien Lechevallier. The hold-up follows a social media post from France’s U.N. mission in Geneva that criticized the U.S. for opposing the renewal of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights' mandate. While the approval process is typically a formality between allies, the U.S. has described the French rhetoric as irresponsible and disrespectful.

Dispute over U.N. mandate

The tension stems from a post on X last month by the French mission to the U.N., which stated that the U.S. is no longer a beacon of human rights. This followed the U.S. decision to side with Russia and North Korea against renewing the mandate of High Commissioner Volker Türk. In response, the U.S. delegation walked out of a U.N. Security Council meeting. A State Department official confirmed the U.S. is responding to the comments, noting their disappointment with the French position.

Stalled diplomatic appointment

Aurélien Lechevallier, currently chief of staff to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, was expected to take office next month. Some officials within Macron’s Renaissance party have described the delay as staggering and potentially retaliatory. Tensions have also been reported regarding U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner, who has been summoned to the French foreign ministry twice amid concerns over his involvement in French political life.