French envoy to US takes post after stalled approval

France's new ambassador to the United States, Aurelien Lechevallier, officially began his position this week, according to the French embassy. His appointment had been delayed due to a diplomatic disagreement between Paris and Washington. Lechevallier expressed his honor in representing France in the US through video messages in both French and English. He stated his intention to maintain the French-American relationship and strengthen ties between the two countries.

Lechevallier, who previously served as the chief of staff to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, presented his credentials to Ambassador Monica Crowley, the Chief of Protocol of the United States, on Tuesday. He was chosen by French President Emmanuel Macron to replace Laurent Bili as the envoy to the United States, but his appointment faced obstacles following a dispute over the UN.

In July, the United States voted against extending Volker Turk's term as UN human rights chief, alongside 9 other countries, including North Korea, Russia, and Nicaragua. The US expressed dissatisfaction with Turk's questioning of US policies under President Donald Trump. The criticism led to the US representative leaving a UN Security Council meeting in protest. The French UN mission apologized for the critique in September, which was well-received by Washington and facilitated Lechevallier's appointment.