NZ reaction to Soleimani killing too timid: academic

The response from the New Zealand Government to the United States drone strike killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani has been too timid, a University of Otago academic says.

University of Otago politics professor Robert Patman said the New Zealand Government had only called for restraint and de-escalation, and needed to make clear its disapproval.

‘‘Mr Trump’s actions are inconsistent with New Zealand’s world view, a rules-based international order. This was a unilateral targeted killing.

‘‘We need to be quite clear that we disapprove of an action which boosts both the Iranian regime and Isis.’’

He said the Iranian retaliation with a missile strike in Iraq yesterday meant some New Zealand troops were at risk.

Forty-five New Zealand Defence Force personnel are stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq, where they have trained Iraqi soldiers to fight Islamic State since 2015.

‘‘Whether they leave or not will depend on two things - clearly the situation on the ground and also whether or not New Zealand have confidence Mr Trump is leading the anti-Isis coalition in the correct fashion,’’ Prof Patman said.

‘‘That confidence has begun to wane - New Zealand and other countries were not consulted in advance about the decision to kill the senior Iranian official.’’

Prof Patman said he did not think the situation would develop into a wider multinational war.

‘‘One of the constraints on a war from the American point of view is the war with Iraq.

‘‘Iran is a much bigger country than Iraq, if they struggled in Iraq they will struggle in Iran.’’

He said Mr Trump uttered threats but lacked follow through.

‘‘He’s very belligerent in rhetoric but in some cases becomes friends with countries - take North Korea for example. He’s quite volatile.’’

Prof Patman thought the Iranian regime was gambling that because Mr Trump was facing re-election in November, it meant he would not want a protracted conflict with Iran.

‘‘There is also considerable evidence of reservations in the United States regarding what he did ... he doesn’t have great support,’’ Prof Patman said.

emma.perry@odt.co.nz