MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Fedyashin) - France's National Assembly rejected a vote of no confidence against the government, a motion that was proposed by Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
Now, Paris has officially returned to NATO's integrated military command after more than 40 years of absence. This NATO's westward expansion was largely a formality. In real life, Paris has long taken part in all of NATO's main operations and has been fourth in its contribution to NATO's foreign military operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq in the last ten years.
Nicolas Sarkozy spoke more than once about the need to return to NATO's central post because it is not befitting for the EU's main member not to take part in decision-making in a bloc that unites the majority of European countries.
Needless to say, France is not returning to the NATO of Charles de Gaulle times. By withdrawing from NATO's military command, the general protested not against NATO per se, but against U.S. domination in it. He did not like Washington at all. Now, after George W. Bush's departure, in conditions of global turmoil, America's loss of prestige and the EU's general irritation, NATO will not be quite the same. European politicians have long been talking about the need for fundamental structural reforms in NATO, and reduction of its bloated and ossified bureaucracy.
The French left-wing forces often blame Sarkozy for his excessive fondness of America, although up to this day this love has only been expressed in his short vacations in America. It is not likely to reveal itself within NATO. On the contrary, Paris is returning to NATO with the full resolve to change the organization from within.
Debates in the National Assembly made it clear that France's presence in NATO will not be easy and smooth. During the debates, French Defense Minister Herve Morin said that it is impossible to decide on the NATO entry of Georgia and Ukraine without consultations with Russia. He said that France believes that NATO should focus on its main task of ensuring collective security rather than turning itself into a global bloc.
There is one more fact showing that the United States is dramatically changing its attitude towards NATO's expansion. By coincidence, on the day of the debates in France, U.S. President Barack Obama received a report by the bipartisan commission of experts on U.S. policy toward Russia headed by former Senator and presidential nominee Gary Hart (Dem.) and former Senator Chuck Hagel (Rep.). In the report, they urge the West to find alternative ways of cooperating with Georgia and Ukraine other than NATO's membership. They emphasize that these countries are not ready to enter NATO, and that the United States, in terms of its national security interests, does not require their membership in the bloc.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
