×
Via Joyner, Judy Dempsey argues that the readmission of France to full member status in NATO is part of a project to pursue an independent European defense capability:
At EU headquarters, France has often blocked the EU from working more closely with NATO, suspicious that Europe's defense ambitions would be reined in by the United States.Sarkozy wants to end these tensions. They have been debilitating for both organizations, which have scant resources and can ill afford duplicating efforts, troops and equipment. As a bloc, the Europeans have not been prepared to take their defense and security policy seriously. Several countries are suspicious of France's long term agenda.Rejoining NATO's integrated military structure, which would finally give France a full say in military issues, might just end those suspicions.Joyner and Dempsey are skeptical that this will work. The EU, it is said, has no stomach for greater defense spending or far flung adventurism. Then again, France did manage to convince the Europeans to engage in an anti-piracy operation, with the UK at its head. And it appears that Euro-skepticism is waning in the face of the financial crisis. Josh Keating notes that the Lisbon Treaty has had some success as of late, and that prospects are looking up for Irish ratification. Moreover, Afghanistan-shy European countries may decide that it was the alliance with the United States that dragged European countries, however justifiably, into the war. An EU defense capability would limit that problem.--Robert Farley
