Over 40 years after Charles de Gaulle tossed NATO and United States forces out of France and withdrew from NATO’s military command, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced France’s intentions to become a full member of the alliance. In a speech on Wednesday, Sarkozy remarked that times have changed since de Gaulle’s decision and it was now in the country’s own best interest.
“Because it is in her interest and because it is her choice, France will take her full place, that of an ally both free and in solidarity, independent but engaged, a country that assumes all its responsibilities, everywhere and speaking to everyone, at the service of our values and of peace.”
President Sarkozy, however, faces domestic opposition. French pundits from the left and right continue to resist the move and denounce Sarkozy’s Atlanticism (read pro-Americanism). They argue that integration into NATO’s military command will limit France’s independence and curb Europe’s prospects for developing its own defense capacity.
Dominique de Villepin, a former prime minister, criticized the step.
“The independent positioning of France is essential for the global balance of power. If tomorrow, we integrated into NATO, would we, could we, maintain the position that we have done on Iraq?”
Despite resistance, the reintegration should become official during a summit celebrating NATO’s 60th anniversary in April. Although already a major provider of troops and funds, France expects to gain two senior posts.
A new backgrounder from the Council on Foreign Relations contends that the shift championed by Sarkozy reflects a broader rethink of France’s foreign policy and military strategy. Like other nations, France’s armed forces are being retooled to deal with perceived threats – terrorism, nuclear proliferation and asymmetric warfare – rather than state-to-state combat and reoriented towards Asia.
Photo from AP.
