FORMER Bolivian president Evo Morales announced the launch on Wednesday of a global campaign for the dissolution of Nato, warning that the military alliance poses a threat to world peace.

The indigenous leader said that social movements worldwide were holding discussions on the formation of an alliance to press the demand.

“Nato is a danger to world peace, to security, so we are in the task of reaching agreements with social movements, not only in Latin America, but in all continents, to eliminate it,” he told Russia’s Sputnik media outlet. “If nothing is done against Nato, it will become a permanent threat to humanity.”

Mr Morales accused the United States of driving Nato’s eastward expansion in a bid to take control of Ukraine’s natural resources, as it did following military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

“The US always provokes wars to sell its weapons, interventions, military bases, to take over natural resources…” he said. “It is not only looking for Ukraine's resources but also to encircle Russia militarily.”

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and its forces’ bombing of major cities, including the capital Kiev, continues to cause death, destruction and a massive refugee exodus from the country.