The United States and France have publicly clashed over the reappointment of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, exposing rare divisions between the two long-standing allies.

According to international media reports, tensions escalated over the weekend after the United States voted against granting Volker Türk a second term as the UN's top human rights official. Washington was joined by Russia, North Korea and seven other countries in opposing the move.

The vote highlighted growing differences over the future direction of the United Nations' human rights agenda and prompted a sharp exchange between the two Western allies.

The disagreement intensified after the US delegation walked out of a UN meeting on Ukraine. France criticised Washington's position, accusing it of political posturing and drawing comparisons between the US voting stance and that of countries such as Russia and North Korea.

Responding to the criticism, US representative Mike Waltz accused France of backing Volker Türk despite what he described as unfair criticism of democratic nations. He claimed the UN human rights chief had repeatedly targeted countries such as the United States and Israel while failing to take a stronger position against authoritarian governments.

The diplomatic exchange reflects broader disagreements among Western allies over the role of international institutions and the balance between accountability and geopolitical interests.

While the vote has renewed debate over the leadership of the UN human rights office, analysts say the public dispute between Washington and Paris could further complicate cooperation on key international issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.