United Nations: A rare american walkout from the security council. A significant diplomatic incident unfolded on Monday as the American delegation abruptly departed a United Nations Security Council session. The walkout occurred when the French ambassador began speaking, with US representatives denouncing France’s comments as “hypocritical.” The tension stemmed from France’s earlier criticism, comparing Washington to nations like North Korea and Russia following a crucial human rights vote. Last Friday, the United States was among ten countries in the General Assembly that voted against renewing the mandate of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, for another four years. France’s mission to the UN in Geneva had reacted strongly on X, stating, “The United States was once a model for human rights. This is no longer the case. Today, they find themselves alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali, and Russia. Isolated. And the world no longer listens to them.” Such an exit from a Security Council meeting is highly unusual. Sources close to the matter indicated that the US delegation was taken aback by France’s direct public confrontation.
Romania expels russian diplomat amid persistent drone incursions. Bucharest has declared a member of the Russian embassy persona non grata, demanding their departure within five days. This decision, conveyed to Russia’s Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev on Monday, follows a series of repeated drone incursions into Romanian airspace. On the same day, fragments of a Shahed-type drone, commonly used by the Russian military in Ukraine and reportedly shot down by a Romanian F-16 fighter jet, were presented to the ambassador. Romania intercepted three drones over the past weekend, with another incursion reported on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry vehemently rejected these accusations, dismissing them as “another propaganda staging” and warning that the “unfounded expulsion of a Russian diplomat will not go unanswered.”
Saudi arabia alleges drone attack from Iraq. As hostilities between the United States and Iran remained quiet for a third consecutive day, the Saudi Ministry of Defense reported that “Iran-backed terrorist militias” had targeted national territory with drones. No group immediately claimed responsibility for this alleged attack. Meanwhile, Yemen’s pro-Iranian Houthi rebels announced on Monday that they had targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, a claim Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm. Riyadh, which backs the Yemeni government, and the Houthis resumed hostilities on July 13th, breaking a four-year truce. On July 20th, the Yemeni rebels declared their intention to blockade Red Sea and Gulf of Aden traffic for vessels traveling to or from Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude oil exporter. Observers suggest the group acts “to support its main ally, Iran, but also to compel Saudi Arabia and the international community to make political concessions in Yemen,” raising significant concerns about the potential for the conflict in the region to escalate once more.
Chad announces withdrawal from international criminal court. N’Djamena justified its decision on Monday to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) by citing the court’s perceived overemphasis on African nations. The Chadian government asserted that out of the 13 investigations launched by the ICC since its inception, nine “concern African states, compared to four opened in other regions of the world.” This move, a significant development in Sahel politics, appears to have been influenced by the United States. According to reports, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, urged Chad to reconsider its ICC membership during a phone call with Chad’s foreign minister last Thursday. The United States initiated a major diplomatic offensive against the ICC in mid-July, accusing its long-standing adversary of “threatening” Americans, promising new sanctions, and encouraging partners to withdraw.
