How rare is a US walkout from the UN Security Council?

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A US walkout from the UN Security Council is a very rare occurrence.

The United States exited a UN Security Council meeting on Monday during France's ambassador's remarks, a highly unusual action for a permanent member of the UN's principal decision-making body. This event underscores a significant diplomatic disagreement between two veto-wielding permanent members.
Dispute Over Human Rights Comparisons Led to Walkout

The US delegation staged the walkout in protest of comments made by France's ambassador that drew parallels between the United States and authoritarian states like North Korea concerning human rights votes. Dan Negrea, a senior US delegation official, described the French intervention as "disingenuous grandstanding," criticising what he perceived as a lecture on human rights unrelated to the council's focus on international peace and security.
Context of the Disagreement

The immediate trigger for the walkout was France's reaction to the US vote in the General Assembly on Friday. The US was among ten countries that voted against extending the term of Volker Turk as UN high commissioner for human rights, a stance that placed it alongside nations such as North Korea, Russia, and Nicaragua. France's mission to the UN in Geneva had publicly stated that the US was "isolated" and no longer a "beacon of human rights," a sentiment that appears to have fueled the US's reaction during the Security Council meeting.
Historical Significance of Security Council Walkouts

Walkouts from the UN Security Council, where permanent members like France and the United States hold veto power, are exceedingly uncommon. Such actions highlight profound rifts within the council and are typically reserved for moments of severe diplomatic contention. The French ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, later responded to the US walkout by referencing the historical relationship between France and the United States, particularly during the US's 250th anniversary year, and stated France's commitment to preserving the UN's independence and its capacity to act in service of its charter.

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How rare is a US walkout from the UN Security Council?

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