Where to for N.Z-U.S. relations on America’s 250th Birthday?

America turns 250 today (U.S. time). On a day which normally invokes the most overt celebrations of all things American, what it means to be American, Independence Day means different things to the 330 million people who have the legal right to call themselves Americans. Most will probably celebrate that in some form today. Millions more will reflect on where America has come from, and where it is headed as a nation. Countries around the world will acknowledge – for better (America’s allies) or for worse (America’s foes) – the universe of Uncle Sam.

As will New Zealand. In election year though, with wars rumbling on in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the unpredictable volatility of the Donald Trump presidency, many might be excused for paying lesser attention to American news than normal. Those who can afford to travel overseas will be watching news around the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) if their flight/s happen to transit through American territory. More worryingly will be anything that looks to keep the cost fuel and imported goods from the U.S. up.

In the 80 years since World War 2, the United States has largely been able guarantee a degree of credibility in many countries through its commitment to their freedom and their common wartime history. With nearly all of the remaining World War 2 veterans either dead or in their very late 90’s, that guarantee has started to crumble. Priorities have changed, with other nations pressing their case to be better mates. Nations have woken up to how U.S. politics is dominated by who has the biggest bank account, and the problems that go with a U.S. President working for his financiers, rather than “We the people” who elected him to office.

Two failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a refusal to address climate change, and increasingly questionable trade deals that appear to be rigged in Washington’s favour are no doubt putting strain on the relationship.

In our case, the U.S. Ambassadorship to New Zealand has just changed the guard. A new ambassador named Jared Novelly has just filed his credentials in Wellington and taken over from his predecessor Scott Brown. Mr Novelly took a largely diplomatic approach when addressing New Zealand’s foreign policy, but was brave enough to test the mettle with a suggestion that we might work on our nuclear legislation. He was just as quick though to say that the U.S. is not going to try to strong arm New Zealand into doing so, all the while hinting that the Trump Administration would be keen for it to happen.

How Mr Novelly fares in New Zealand in the next few years will probably depend on who New Zealand elects as Prime Minister in November. A Christopher Luxon Government will probably be receptive to mining projects that the Trump Administration wants to pursue. A Labour-led Government with Chris Hipkins at the helm could be significantly cooler on all fronts. If Mr Novelly takes Mr Luxon’s advice to read a bit about our history on the nuclear matter, then he might have more nuanced views on a potentially thorny matter.

While Mr Trump is still in office, I think most New Zealanders will probably have some second thoughts about travelling anywhere in the U.S. or travelling via U.S airports. I have personally told my American friends not to expect me before Mr Trump leaves office – presumably on 20 January 2029.

America is a great country, but its I.C.E. need complete reform. I will not go as far as some critics have and call it the American Gestapo – I do not think anything other than the original Geheime Statspolizei – should ever be called that. However, anyone transiting through the U.S. or on holiday there from a country that has been critical of Mr Trump, should look at whether travelling to/through the U.S. at this time is really necessary.

It is a bit of a bum note to end on. But… I hope America takes a real good look at itself on Independence Day 2026. I hope that in the course of your celebrations, Americans take a look at their nation and consider how it came to be the truly greatest nation in the world in the mid-late 20th Century. I hope it remembers its immigrant roots – the Irish, Italians, French and others who came forth to build the nation. I hope it remembers the little battlers who work two jobs to put their children through school, that now own businesses and employ others, and how it became proud of them.

But most of all… Can you just put aside the N.R.A. fearmongering about the 2nd Amendment, the alleged Indian invasion that is taking over jobs as fast as A.I., for one day and just join with me and others in saying….

Happy Birthday America.