Political rift: France’s move against Ambassador Kushner who refused to appear for the conversation

Tensions between the United States and France have been increasing since President Trump entered the White House, and another incident in recent days threatens to widen the rift between the countries. The French Foreign Ministry demanded that US Ambassador Charles Kushner be denied access to the French government, after he refused to appear for a clarification conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro, regarding his criticism of left-wing violence in the country.

The diplomatic crisis began after the US Embassy in France posted on social media a reference to the murder of Quentin Darnak, a far-right activist. The post claimed that “violent extremism on the left is on the rise” in France. Darnak, a 23-year-old mathematics student, died in hospital 10 days ago after being attacked and beaten by a group of masked youths in the city of Lyon.

Ministers from the center-right French government attributed the attack to “extreme left-wing militants”. Six suspects involved in the deadly attack were charged in Darnak’s death, and a parliamentary assistant to a member of parliament from a far-left party was also charged with aiding and abetting.

The statement of the American embassy led to a sharp French reaction. “We reject any attempt to exploit this tragedy, which brought a French family into mourning, for political purposes,” said Barrow at the end of the week. “We have nothing to learn, certainly not on the issue of violence, from parts of the international community.”

Following the embassy’s statement, France summoned Kushner, the country’s top American diplomat, to the Foreign Ministry office in Paris for a clarification interview – but he chose not to appear on the grounds that he had previous commitments, and instead sent his deputy.

The move further angered the French Foreign Ministry, which accused Kushner of an “apparent failure to understand the basic requirements of a diplomatic mission,” noting that Barrow had requested that he “not be allowed direct access” to government ministers.

This is not the first friction between Kushner and the French Foreign Ministry. In August, Kushner published a public letter to the Elysee Palace, in which he claimed that France is not doing enough to curb anti-Semitic violence in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Kushner for a clarification conversation following the letter, accusing the United States of violating international law and interfering in its internal affairs. Also in August, Kushner broke off the clarification conversation, which further increased the tensions between the countries.