Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said he hoped military alliances like NATO would be disbanded eventually, saying they could pose a “greater danger” to the world.
In comments that are likely to fuel further tensions with the labor headquarters, Corbyn said he did not blame NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but that it should be seen in a historical context.
Corbyn has now been removed from the Labor whip following comments following a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on anti-Semitism in his party.
The Islington North MP said that people should “look at the process that could happen at the end of the war in Ukraine” and asked: “Do military alliances bring peace?”
“I would like to see a world in which we will eventually begin to dissolve all military alliances,” he told Times Radio. “The question must be: what is the best way to achieve peace in the future?” Is it from more unions? Is it from more military accumulation?
“Or by stopping the war in Ukraine and other wars … that are going on right now, that are also killing a very large number of people?” And ask yourself: do military alliances bring peace? Or are they actually encouraging each other and building on greater danger?
“I do not blame NATO for the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine. What I am saying is to look at things historically and look at the process that could happen at the end of the war in Ukraine.
The former leader said he would “support Ukraine’s right to defend himself” if he were prime minister, but would focus on promoting dialogue. Asked if he supported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he said: “I have never met him. I don’t know… I think he speaks well and I admire that. ”
Corbyn said the decision not to re-elect him as a Labor MP was a “wrong, completely unfounded decision” by Labor leader Keir Starmer.
Starmer told the Guardian last week that Corbyn’s further comments, including his support for the Stop the War coalition, had made his readmission more difficult, saying he expected all Labor MPs to support NATO and not attract it. false equivalence “between Russia and NATO.
These comments led to a quick rebuttal by former shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who said there had been a commitment to NATO under Corbyn.
“NATO’s commitment is Labor policy, democratically determined by a party conference and adopted by every Labor leader to be included in every Labor manifesto, including Jeremy Corbyn, since NATO’s inception,” he tweeted.
“If we cannot be honest in our assessments of NATO’s performance, lessons on how it will play its role in the future will never be learned. On that basis, I see no reason why Jeremy Corbyn should not be eligible for these new Labor rights.
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