LONDON (Reuters) - The deputy leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Sunday he would aim to convince new Labour boss Jeremy Corbyn of the merits of the NATO military alliance, addressing a split at the top of the party over defense and foreign policy.
Left-wing anti-war campaigner Corbyn, who was elected Labour leader in a decisive victory on Saturday, opposes the renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear-armed submarine program and has advocated withdrawing from NATO.
"I need to be honest about where I stand on things, I think NATO has kept the peace in Europe for half a century," Tom Watson, who was elected deputy leader on Saturday, told the BBC.
"I would be very, very surprised if his (Corbyn's) mandate from most members is simply on the future of NATO," Watson said, adding that a decision over such policies could be put to Labour's members.
"I aim to convince him of the merits of NATO ... These things have got to be worked out."
Watson, who backs the renewal of Trident, also said he would definitely support Britain staying in the European Union at a referendum due by the end of 2017.
The rise of Corbyn, who voted 'No' to Europe in a 1975 referendum and has been ambiguous about how he plans to campaign in the upcoming vote, has raised fears among some British pro-Europeans that he will scupper the hopes of drawing millions of Labour voters in support of the EU.