Montecillo Trust chairman David More gave a pointed speech at the Montecillo Veterans Home & Hospital 11am Anzac service where he condemned United States President Donald Trump. Photo: Gerard O'Brien The chairman of a Dunedin war veterans retirement home has taken aim at Donald Trump, saying the United States president has set the world on a path similar to conditions that ignited World War 2. During his Anzac Day speech at Montecillo Veterans Home & Hospital on Saturday, prominent Dunedin lawyer and Montecillo Trust chairman David More said WW2 resulted in "horrendous casualties" and the deaths of about 20million military and 50million civilians. Because of this, the Allies, led by Franklin Roosevelt, resolved to establish a rules-based system, so there would never be another world war. The United Nations was set up, based on the principle of sovereign equality of all nations. "This principle has been adhered to by all democracies, until the election of Donald Trump as president for his second term," Mr More said. "This time last year, I referred to President Trump turning rogue in accusing [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy in starting the Russian-Ukraine war." More recently, Mr Trump ordered the bombing of Iran on February 28, which started the present conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. "The US attack on Iran was a pre-emptive strike and unlawful under international law, in that it was contrary to article 2.4 of the [United Nations] charter, which requires all members to refrain from the threat or use of force against any state," Mr More said. "Customary international law justifies a pre-emptive strike, if it is necessary in self-defence. "The test is stringent and is known as the Caroline test. "The US attack doesn’t even start to achieve the Caroline test." At the time of the bombing, the US and Iran were in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. "There can be no question that President Trump’s decision to attack Iran was a clear and deliberate breach of international law. "There is a real risk that President Trump has returned the world to the conditions that brought about World War 2," Mr More said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking at a Munich security conference in February, said "a rift, a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States. The rules-based world order no longer exists". Mr More asked where this left New Zealand. "New Zealand today cannot force our will by military might — we can rely only on example and persuasion. "We owe it to those we honour today, who gave their lives in two world wars in the cause of freedom, to continue to uphold the rules of international law," he said. laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
