New Zealand has dismissed High Commissioner Phil Goff from his position after he made remarks questioning US President Donald Trump’s understanding of history during an event in London. Goff compared the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the 1938 Munich Agreement, suggesting Trump’s actions lacked historical insight, particularly in contrast to Winston Churchill’s opposition to appeasement with Nazi Germany. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters deemed Goff’s comments “deeply disappointing” and inconsistent with government views. Peters did not consult Prime Minister Christopher Luxon before the decision, which Luxon considered “appropriate.” Former PM Helen Clark criticized the dismissal, calling it unjustified.
New Zealand has terminated its top diplomat in the United Kingdom due to comments that doubted US President Donald Trump’s understanding of history.
During an event in London on Tuesday, High Commissioner Phil Goff likened the efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the 1938 Munich Agreement, which permitted Adolf Hitler to annex portions of Czechoslovakia.
Mr. Goff mentioned that Sir Winston Churchill criticized the Munich Agreement, adding his thoughts on the US president: “President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he genuinely comprehends history?”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters described these remarks as “deeply disappointing” and stated that they rendered Mr. Goff’s position “untenable.”
These remarks followed President Trump’s suspension of military aid to Kyiv after a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week.
Mr. Goff contrasted Trump with Churchill, who, despite being distanced from the British government, spoke out against the Munich Agreement, viewing it as capitulation to Nazi Germany’s threats.
He quoted Churchill’s accusation against then-UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: “You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war.”
Peters indicated that Mr. Goff’s opinions did not align with those of the New Zealand government.
“In that role, you represent the government and its current policies; you cannot think freely; you are the face of New Zealand,” local media reported Peters as saying.
“This is not how one should conduct themselves as the diplomatic representative of a country,” he continued, adding that he would have made the same decision regardless of the country being referenced.
Mr. Goff has had a long political career, having served as high commissioner since January 2023. Previously, he was the mayor of Auckland for two terms, led the Labour Party from 2008 to 2011, and held various ministerial positions, including those in justice, foreign affairs, and defence.
Peters, who also serves as deputy prime minister, stated to reporters that he decided to fire Phil Goff without consulting Prime Minister Christopher Luxon first.
When reminded that Luxon is the leader of New Zealand, Peters responded, “I know he’s the prime minister; I made him the prime minister.”
The 79-year-old, who has previously collaborated with Mr. Goff in government, leads the New Zealand First political party, which allied with Luxon’s National Party and the Act Party in 2023 to form the current ruling center-right coalition government.
Luxon commented that Peters’ action to dismiss Mr. Goff without prior consultation was “entirely appropriate.”
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark was among those who criticized Mr. Goff’s dismissal, claiming it was supported by a “very flimsy excuse.”
“I recently attended the Munich Security Conference, where many drew comparisons between the Munich of 1938 and current US actions,” she wrote in a post on X.
Under the terms of the 1938 Munich Agreement, Hitler seized control of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland. This agreement ultimately failed to prevent Nazi Germany from expanding further into Europe, culminating in World War Two when he invaded Poland in 1939.