New Zealand has dismissed its senior diplomat to the United Kingdom after he made remarks questioning U.S. President Donald Trump’s understanding of history. At an event in London, High Commissioner Phil Goff had compared efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine with the 1938 Munich Agreement, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Goff also highlighted how Winston Churchill had criticized the Munich Agreement and then questioned whether President Trump truly understood history, noting that Trump had returned a bust of Churchill to the Oval Office.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters termed Goff’s statements as “deeply disappointing” and stated that his position had become untenable. Goff’s comments followed Trump’s temporary halt of military aid to Ukraine after a contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Peters emphasized that as a representative of New Zealand, Goff was not in a position to express personal opinions, and such behavior was not suitable for a diplomat.

Goff, who served as a mayor and held various ministerial roles, has been New Zealand’s high commissioner since January 2023. Peters, who is also the deputy prime minister, made the decision to dismiss Goff unilaterally without consulting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The decision was deemed “entirely appropriate” by Luxon. Critics, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, argued that the reason for Goff’s sacking was weak, pointing out that parallels between the Munich Agreement and contemporary U.S. actions are frequently drawn.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3yew446k5o