Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has said she would withdraw France from NATO's integrated military command if elected president in 2027.
Speaking to BFM TV as NATO ministers met in Sweden, Le Pen argued the command structure undermines France's independence. "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," she said.
Le Pen criticized Europe's dependence on U.S. decisions, saying, "In reality we are dependent on the decisions of Donald Trump which is regrettable."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot dismissed the call as "unreasonable and wholly irresponsible," adding that some allies see Russian aggression as a threat and would view withdrawal as betrayal.
The debate over NATO is longstanding in France, which has traditionally valued "strategic autonomy." President Macron has also urged Europe to reduce reliance on the U.S. for defense.
France previously withdrew from NATO's integrated command in 1966 under Charles de Gaulle, but rejoined in 2009 under Nicolas Sarkozy.
Le Pen's National Rally party leads opinion polls ahead of the presidential election, though a potential candidate, Jordan Bardella, struck a more cautious tone, saying he would not pull out during wartime.
