BRUSSELS — France has backed away from a public dispute with the United States after Washington reportedly held up the appointment of Paris’ next ambassador over a social media post criticizing U.S. policy at the United Nations. France’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva said Friday that the disagreement involved a single General Assembly vote and did not represent a broader dispute over human rights. The mission also reaffirmed the countries’ alliance and their ability to cooperate on peace, stability and prosperity through international institutions. “France and the United States recently adopted divergent positions during a vote at the United Nations General Assembly,” the statement said. “This divergence concerned a single vote and did not relate to the defense of human rights.” A State Department official said Washington appreciated the statement and looked forward to working with France on shared interests and values. The dispute began in July, when the French mission posted on X that the United States “used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.” The post followed a U.S. vote against renewing the term of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Two days later, U.S. officials left a U.N. Security Council meeting as France’s representative began speaking. The fallout reportedly delayed approval of Aurélien Lechevallier as France’s ambassador to Washington. Lechevallier, currently chief of staff to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, is expected to replace Laurent Bili. The diplomatic repair comes as France and the United States continue to manage disagreements over human rights, international institutions and public messaging. The countries also clashed last year after France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner over an open letter accusing President Emmanuel Macron’s government of failing to do enough to confront rising antisemitism. Although the latest dispute appears to be easing, the episode demonstrates how quickly public posts by government missions can spill into formal diplomacy—and how decisions affecting representation between allied countries can become leverage in political conflicts.