London, (Samajweekly) Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has passed an emergency motion that described the new security pact among the US, the UK and Australia, known as AUKUS, as a “dangerous move that will undermine world peace”.
During the party’s annual conference held on Monday, delegates passed the emergency motion by 70.35 per cent to 29.65 per cent, reports Xinhua news agency.
“AUKUS is starting a new nuclear arms race and cold war. We must keep speaking out against it,” said former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Twitter 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 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 US 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.
