Le Pen Calls for France to Quit NATO Military Command

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has said that if she wins next year's presidential election, she will withdraw France from NATO's integrated military command. She argues that the alliance's current structure undermines French independence and deepens Europe's reliance on decisions made in Washington.

"We have to withdraw from NATO’s integrated command. We should remain in NATO, but leaving the command does not prevent interoperability with allied forces", Le Pen told BFM TV on the sidelines of a NATO ministerial meeting in Sweden.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot dismissed the proposal as "irresponsible". At a time when Washington is reassessing its engagement in Europe, he said, it was important to strengthen Europe's role in NATO rather than distance France from the alliance.

The debate over France's place in NATO has a long history. President Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from the integrated command in 1966, and the country did not return until 2009 under President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Le Pen's National Rally is polling strongly around a year before the presidential election. However, her candidacy depends on an appeals court ruling expected later this year.

(reuters, bak)