Jacinda Ardern’s Spy Comments Make NZ ‘A Laughing Stock’
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s statement that New Zealand is not home to any Russian spies is being met with scepticism, and scoffing, internationally. New Zealand is now the only member of the Five Eyes alliance not to take action against Russia over the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter.
In the past two days countries including Canada, Australia, the US, and EU and eastern European nations joined the UK in expelling dozens of Russian diplomats and declared intelligence staff.
Ms Ardern told Morning Report on Tuesday she has checked and New Zealand does not “have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here”.
“If we did, we would expel them,” she said.
International media have poked fun at New Zealand over the statement.
The Guardian’s headline reads: “New Zealand says it would expel Russian spies ... but it can’t find any”.
The French news agency AFP writes: “New Zealand can’t find any Russian spies to expel.”
The Telegraph has a headline in a similar vein.
Security analyst Paul Buchanan said Ms Ardern’s remarks were disingenous, and he told Morning Report it had made New Zealand “a laughing stock”. “You mentioned The Guardian headline ... there’s dozens of headlines along those lines.
“There seems to be some mincing of words here on the part of the PM in order to wriggle out of what many think is the responsibility to join our allies in this solidarity action.”
Not all the people kicked out by the other countries were spies, some were regular diplomats, he said.
“This is mostly about repudiating Russia’s actions abroad, so it’s symbolic, you could recall the expelled people within two to three months.” On Tuesday Ms Ardern said her advice about there not being Russian spies came from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, but Dr Buchanan said it is the SIS that provides such information.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters is responsible for that department and Mr Buchanan said Mr Peters’ comments about Russia has been raising eyebrows. Mr Buchanan said the government might have to backtrack and expel a Russian diplomat to keep up appearances.