PARIS — The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has stated plans to summon America's envoy in Paris, Ambassador Kushner, concerning remarks connected with the fatal assault on right-wing figure Quentin Deranque.
Deranque was beaten to death in Lyon recently amid a violent clash with what are alleged to be far-left militants. The killing has become a flashpoint in France, where the government has objected to the way U.S. officials framed the incident.
The U.S. embassy in France and the U.S. State Department's bureau of counterterrorism stated they were closely watching the case, issuing warnings on social media that "there is a rise in violent radical leftist activity" and that it must be considered a public safety threat.
"Violent radical leftism is on the rise and poses a significant public safety threat," the U.S. statements said, according to the report. The decision to summon the ambassador reflects the delicate nature surrounding the incident and the French government's objection to the framing of the killing in the U.S. statements.
Summoning an ambassador is a formal diplomatic step used to convey a government's displeasure directly. Further developments in this diplomatic matter are expected shortly, as both governments navigate a case that touches on domestic political violence in France and on how allies describe it in public.
The episode adds another irritant to U.S.-European relations at a moment when Washington and its allies are already divided over the war in Iran, troop deployments in Germany and trade.
