No Advantages in Returning to High Commands

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his country is to return to NATO’s military command. This is about the happen after near four decades since President Charles de Gaulle withdrew his country from the alliance in order to maintain France’s sovereignty.

France has been one of the founders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a collective defense pact for mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. Despite its key role in the organization, in 1966 France decided to withdraw the military command to maintain its independence. The country shifted to a dialogue-based foreign policy which led to its opposition with the 2003 war against Iraq.

Ehsan Naraqi believes the Sarkozy’s decision is aimed towards a closer partnership with the United States. De Gaulle’s withdrawal from NATO was a protest to U.S. domination, since United States has possessed the leading role in the organization, up to now senior American military have presided, and the armament and budget are mainly supplied by the United States. De Gaulle wanted to keep his country sovereign and independent, not under U.S. influence.

Naraqi adds that Sarkozy may intend to preserve his country’s independence in defense issues despite joining the military commands. This could be a prelude to Europe’s independent defense policy, which Naraqi regards as a positive change.

Sarkozy has sought closer ties with United States since his presidential tenure. But it seems that rather than aligning with United States general principles, he favored George Bush’s controversial policies. In fact, he intended to introduce himself as Bush’s successor after the American president would leave the office. With Democrats entering the White House, Sarkozy has started his game, of which returning to NATO full membership is a symbolic gesture.

Most European countries are full NATO members, Naraqi adds. He believes that Sarkozy’s decision is more of a symbolic measure since membership in NATO merely adds to the country’s expenses. With NATO having established military bases even in Eastern European countries, France’s return will have no real advantage.

Although France is already contributing to NATO’s missions by sending troops to Afghanistan and Kosovo, many French are opposed against the idea of full membership and it has been a controversial topic in political circles. Many politicians believe that full membership means falling under U.S. influence, unbearable by the French public.

NATO is to celebrate its 60th anniversary cohosted France and Germany next month. U.S. President Barack Obama and other leaders of NATO-member countries would attend the ceremony.