France and NATO or How to Build a European Defence

France will probably announce its reintegration into the NATO’s military command at the coming NATO summit of Strasbourg-Kehl, 3-4 April 2009. The author analyses the present debate in France on the reintegration of France into NATO’s military command. Is it the end of Gaullism and the end of French efforts to build a European defence, as opponents from the left and the right pretend? According to the author, Sarkozy’s move is less gaulliste than gaullien: he acts as the General did, taking daring initiatives when he deems them necessary. Far from giving up this objective, building a European defence is at the centre of his initiative. By bringing France back into NATO, Sarkozy wants to woo Britain, who has always been suspicious of French anti-Atlanticist tendencies. Cooperation with Britain, ‘the indispensable nation’ for European defence, will become easier when France becomes a fully-fledged member of the Alliance