LONDON, Sep 28 (Asia Free Press): The UK Labour Party on Tuesday rejected the new military pact involving the UK, US and Australia and said it’s “undermines world peace” and should be opposed, British media reported.
Conference delegates voted overwhelming in favour of an emergency motion which condemned the deal forged by Boris Johnson’s government – dubbed Aukus – calling it a “dangerous move”, the Independent reported.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed the pact was “starting a new nuclear arms race and cold war” and said members should “keep speaking out against it”.
“We must keep speaking out against it,” said former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on tweeted on Monday.
The AUKUS pact, announced earlier this month, has triggered widespread concerns and criticism. The three countries announced that the first initiative under AUKUS is to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet to Australia.
The move, widely interpreted as an attempt to check China’s growing military assertiveness in the region, was swiftly condemned by Beijing as a “geopolitical gaming tool”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a global nuclear watchdog, has voiced concern amid international worries about the proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies in response to the trilateral deal.
“The IAEA will engage with them (Australia, the United States and Britain) on this matter in line with its statutory mandate, and in accordance with their respective safeguards agreements with the Agency,” it said in a recent statement.