The United States staged a rare walkout during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, leaving the chamber as France’s ambassador began speaking in protest over recent French criticism of the US on human rights.

The meeting focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine, but tensions flared after France previously compared the United States to countries such as North Korea, Russia, and Nicaragua over a controversial UN General Assembly vote on human rights.

Explaining the decision to walk out, Dan Negrea, an alternate representative to the UN General Assembly and senior US delegation official, accused France of engaging in what he described as “disingenuous grandstanding.”

“There is a member of this council that will feign moral outrage and pretend to lecture the rest of us about every topic, whether it’s about the very conflict we’re discussing yet again today, or even those unrelated to international peace and security, like human rights.

“That is why we walked out during France’s intervention,” Negrea said.

The walkout was particularly notable because such protests are extremely uncommon in the Security Council, where both the United States and France are permanent members with veto powers.

The diplomatic dispute stems from a vote held last Friday, in which the United States was among 10 countries that voted against extending the term of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Following the vote, France’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva criticized Washington, posting:

“The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore. Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.”

Responding to those remarks, Negrea defended the US position.

“I remind them that it is the United States that remains the beacon of liberty for the world. As such, we will not be affording them the benefit of listening to their politicized drivel.”

French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont later addressed the incident, reminding the council of the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

“This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. And everyone knows the role France has played in that.”

He added that France remains committed to preserving the independence of the United Nations and promoting the principles of the UN Charter, human rights, and international peace.