McKinnon signs fiery note to Trump
Former New Zealand deputy prime minister Sir Don McKinnon has co-signed a letter to United States President Donald Trump decrying the US’s ‘‘deteriorating relationship’’ with its western allies.
The letter from 16 former foreign ministers or secretaries of state calls on Trump to urgently repair the relationship and not become too friendly with Russia.
‘‘We are gravely concerned about the deteriorating relationship between the United States and its Western allies,’’ the letter reads.
It is timed to come out just before Trump’s attendance of the NATO summit and a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former US Secretary of State Madelaine Albright is one of the co-signatories, along with the UK’s David Miliband, Canada’s Lloyd Axworthy, and Germany’s Joschka Fisher.
Australia and France are not represented on the list.
McKinnon was deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister under the Bolger government in the 1990s.
In reaction to the letter Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the US is a ‘‘sovereign nation’’ and it ‘‘doesn’t really matter’’ what Peters thought about its actions.
‘‘That’s a democratic matter for the American people’’ Peters said.
He had not read the letter yet so could not say whether or not he agreed with McKinnon.
The signatories are particularly concerned with the possibility of Trump ignoring or accepting Russia’s recent behaviour on the global stage.
‘‘Russia is engaged in an effort to weaken US influence and divide it from its allies in Europe. Russia’s actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law. Its interference in elections around the world has undermined confidence in democracy,’’ the letter reads.
‘‘To ignore or accept these
The signatories are particularly concerned with the possibility of Trump ignoring or accepting Russia’s recent behaviour.
actions would be a grave mistake, inviting further aggression and instability.’’
Tensions between the US and its traditional allies have been heightened in recent weeks following June’s G7 summit, which ended in bitter public acrimony between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.