Sarkozy Signals Return to Nato Military Command

Nicolas Sarkozy today signaled France's imminent return to Nato's military command in the most significant shift in its foreign policy for years.

Sarkozy, who is the most pro-US French leader in recent history, told a Nato summit in Bucharest that he expects to announce a decision by the end of this year when France will hand over the EU presidency.

"At the end of the French presidency [of the EU] the moment will have come to conclude this process and to take the necessary decisions for France to take its full place in Nato's structures," Sarkozy said.

General Charles de Gaulle, who had prickly relations with the US and Britain, pulled France out of Nato's integrated military command in 1966.

Sarkozy has made it clear that he wants Europe to strengthen its defence role and is keen for France and Britain to take the lead on the issue.

By fully committing to Nato, France would be in a position to boost Europe's fledgling defence system. It would be easier, for example, for Paris to win backing for European defence projects among other alliance members as a full Nato member.

Sarkozy, who has underscored the importance of good relations with the US, has pledged that a European defence force would not compete, but complement the 26-members.

France flirted with the idea of returning to Nato's integrated military command in 1996 under President Jacques Chirac. But negotiations came to nothing when the US refused to yield to French demands for key commands in the Mediterranean.

French defence officials believe that a closer relationship with Nato could boost French influence on its military operations, help change the organization at a time when its role is increasingly under question and reap the benefits in terms of command posts.

France takes part in Nato operations, training and procedures, but is precluded from planning operations. By rejoining the command system, France will boost its influence in what the alliance does.

Despite its absence from the alliance's inner councils, France has taken part in major operations such as Nato deployments in the Balkans in the 1990s and in Afghanistan. But France's decision to remain outside the military command causes its own particular problems. Missions can be slow to get off the ground because of the need to devise special arrangements for France whenever the alliance acts.

Sarkozy today confirmed that France will send a battalion of around 700-800 troops to Afghanistan, adding to the existing French contingent of 1,700.

Reinforcements will be sent to the volatile eastern region of Afghanistan, enabling US troops to move to the southern region of Kandahar where Canada has threatened to pull out its troops unless it gets 1,000 reinforcements from another ally. Nato's 47,000-troop mission in Afghanistan has turned into a test of credibility for the organization as it seeks to control the Taliban.

While France's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan will be welcome for Nato, there was a setback for the alliance when it decided not to let Macedonia join during the summit in Bucharest.

Greece has threatened to veto Macedonia's membership until the two settle a dispute over the name of Macedonia. Greece has a northern province also called Macedonia.