Paris – France has moved to limit U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner’s access to the French government following his failure to respond to a formal summons, escalating a diplomatic dispute over comments made regarding a recent political killing. The move highlights increasing friction between Paris and Washington and signals a willingness by French officials to push back against perceived interference in domestic affairs.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot requested Monday that Kushner be barred from direct access to members of the French government, according to reports from the Associated Press and France 24. The summons stemmed from statements released by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Paris concerning the death of Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist.
Deranque died earlier this month after sustaining brain injuries during a clash between opposing political groups in Lyon. The U.S. State Department’s Counter Terrorism Bureau stated Thursday that Deranque was “killed by left-wing militants” and that this assessment had been “corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior.” The U.S. Embassy in Paris subsequently reshared the statement.
Barrot strongly condemned the U.S. Statements, asserting, “We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends.” He added, “We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.” As reported by Time magazine, Barrot indicated that Kushner would be prohibited from meeting with French ministers until he provided an explanation.
According to French media reports, Kushner did not appear for the scheduled meeting with the Foreign Ministry on Sunday. Barrot stated Tuesday that there is “nothing more usual than summoning an ambassador when explanations need to be made,” and that Kushner would regain access to French government members once he had responded to the summons. De Standaard reported that Kushner must now “smooth things over with France.”
The situation underscores the delicate balance of diplomatic relations and the potential for disagreements over sensitive political issues to quickly escalate. The French government’s firm response signals its determination to protect its sovereignty and prevent external actors from influencing its internal affairs.
