Main focus of Thursday, March 12, 2009

France to rejoin Nato command

France wants to become a full member of Nato after an absence of more than forty years. Fearing a loss of national sovereignty, President Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from the Nato command structure in 1966. France's return to the integrated military command is to be finalised at the Nato summit in Strasbourg and Baden-Baden this April.

Le Nouvel Observateur - France

In the weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur Bruno Tertrais, a researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), argues that France's return to Nato's integrated military command will not limit its sovereignty: "The decision for a Nato military deployment is taken by consensus, and if necessary France will continue to oppose American initiatives. Every country has the freedom to take part in a deployment or not. Even after France rejoins the military command the French army will continue to be under the control of the French state. ... Clearly this is a positive signal to the United States and its closest allies. But one must avoid dividing the world into the friends and foes of America. That would be to repeat the mistake committed by George W. Bush. In addition it would be wrong to overestimate the effect the French decision will have on potential Nato opponents. They are indifferent to the exact position of France within the Atlantic Alliance. They just want to know if France is an ally of the United States or not." (11/03/2009)

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All available articles from » Alain Roux

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

The left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung writes that President Nicolas Sarkozy is not only interested in consolidating France's leadership position in Nato: "The egomaniac in the Elysée also wants to valorise his own role. He sees himself in a league with the US president, who he claimed as a good friend ('Obama? C'est mon copain!') even before [Baracl] Obama was elected. Sarkozy's affinity for the US has led to his being nicknamed 'Sarko l'Américain' at home, an epithet he does not object to at all. ... As opposed to his predecessor, Sarkozy wants the kind of leadership role hitherto only imaginable for such weighty players as the British or the Germans. But with its special relationship to the US London declines such a role, while Berlin is not in a position to adopt it. However to be a vocal partner in the alliance you need full membership. For Sarkozoy the French should not only provide money and soldiers, they should also have a say when strategic questions are being decided." (12/03/2009)

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All available articles from » Gerd Kröncke

La Stampa - Italy

According to the liberal daily La Stampa France's return to Nato is primarily a media stunt: "Membership in a military structure without doubt has a certain symbolic value. … But the younger generation lays little store by such membership because since the collapse of the Soviet Union it no longer really knows what Nato is and what exactly it's supposed to achieve. But if this historic turning point changes so little … why is it so important for Sarkozy? There are two possible interpretations. One is the pragmatic version, that France's return will give it greater influence in decision-making and put the country in a commanding position previously and unofficially agreed on with the US. The other is psychological: Unlike [his predecessor Charles] de Gaulle, who dominated the media with his great immovable presence, Nicolas Sarkozy seeks to captivate its attention by constantly remaining in movement. Nato offers him … a welcome opportunity to do this." (12/03/2009)

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All available articles from » Boris Biancheri

Népszabadság - Hungary

Commenting on France's return to Nato the left-liberal daily Népszabadság writes: "With this step the final significant element of Charles de Gaulle's policy has disappeared, swept away by the ardent Gaullist Nicolas Sarkozy, of all people. … Sarkozy has distanced himself from his predecessor's programme. He no longer insists on an autonomous defence policy for France but instead promotes the ideal of a common security and defence policy within the EU. In doing so he has secured the support of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. … But there's a snag to France's further integration into Nato's command structure: Turkey. Because in return for the warm reception given to the 'lost son' Ankara now expects Paris to look more favourably on its bid for EU membership." (12/03/2009)

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All available articles from » Attila Seres

Svenska Dagbladet - Sweden

Following President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement that France wants to become a full Nato member once more the Stockholm daily Svenska Dagbladet compares him with the comic hero Asterix, who accomplishes the impossible, and recommends that Sweden, too, join the alliance: "Sarkozy is showing strong leadership in challenging the Gaullist identity. [The Swedish] Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is no Asterix. But if he refines the government's Nato policy, the seemingly impossible could be achieved and the myth [of former social democratic prime minister Olof] Palme and his neutrality policy with Sweden as a third power in global politics could be challenged. For in reality Sweden has always been dependent on secret military cooperation with the US and other Nato countries." (12/03/2009)

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