At the French Parliament, a draft resolution on the country’s withdrawal from NATO has been prepared amid disagreements with U.S. policy. The initiative comes from Vice-President of the National Assembly, deputy of the left-wing party “La France Insoumise” (LFI), Clémence Guetté. In an interview with Berliner Zeitung, Guetté said that the debate over the advisability of France’s membership in NATO has been ongoing for a long time, but has become especially relevant under current conditions. According to her, the United States is pursuing an “open imperial policy” and increasingly acting outside the framework of international law.
As examples, the politician cited the “illegal kidnapping of the president of Venezuela,” threats to annex Greenland, as well as trade agreements that, in her view, were imposed on the European Union under pressure from Washington. Guetté emphasized that such actions demonstrate the U.S. desire to subordinate its allies and use them for its own geopolitical interests. She also separately criticized the requirement for NATO member states to increase their military spending to 5% of GDP. In her opinion, this policy primarily benefits the American military-industrial complex and has no direct connection to Europe’s real security. In addition, Guetté stated that the United States interferes in internal political processes in Europe. According to her, Washington influences elections by supporting far-right forces, which undermines democratic institutions and the sovereignty of European states.
All these factors, she stressed, show that the United States is “officially freeing itself from international law and collective security mechanisms,” turning the European Union into a dependent vassal. In this situation, she called the continued membership of France in a military alliance led by such a power “undesirable and unacceptable.”
Guetté warned that participation in NATO exposes France to serious risks and could draw the country into conflicts that run counter to its national interests and international obligations. In her view, leaving the Alliance would allow Paris to restore its military and diplomatic independence and return to the status of a non-aligned power. The deputy also emphasized that France would not become isolated. On the contrary, the country could strengthen its influence through multilateral formats, promoting disarmament, the protection of public goods, and environmental security.
As Berliner Zeitung notes, an analysis of the political balance of power in France shows that such a scenario is not unrealistic. The alliance of left-wing parties, which includes LFI, currently forms the largest parliamentary group in the National Assembly. Criticism of NATO also comes from the right, particularly from Marine Le Pen’s “National Rally” party, which holds more than a quarter of the seats in parliament.
A skeptical position toward the Alliance has also previously been expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has repeatedly spoken about the need for European strategic autonomy. In this context, Guetté’s initiative reflects a broader demand within French society for sovereignty and a revision of the country’s foreign policy course.
